Migration Advisory Committee issues call for evidence on EU migration

IMPACT – HIGH

What is the change? The Migration Advisory Committee has been asked by the Home Office to launch an independent review to assess the impact of European Union migrants on the U.K. economy and to review different sectors as part of the MAC’s call for evidence from businesses and anyone with relevant knowledge, expertise or experience. The evidence will help form the MAC’s review process and response. The purpose of the review is to look at where EU migration benefits the U.K. “economically, socially and culturally,” and ultimately could shape plans for how immigration will be controlled when the U.K. formally exits the EU.

What does the change mean? The MAC has set a deadline of Oct. 27 for views and evidence, and the committee has published a list of questions it would like respondents to address. The questions cover the following categories:

• What are current and predicted EEA migration trends, including the types of jobs and skills filled by EU/EEA migrants and the impact of a possible reduction in EEA migrants on business?
• What methods do companies use to recruit and train EU/EEA migrants?
• What are the economic, social and fiscal costs and benefits of EEA migration to the U.K. economy?
• A full list of questions and how to provide responses is available here.

BAL Analysis: BAL will be engaging with clients and encourages companies to provide comments to the MAC either directly or through BAL. The MAC may quote the evidence it receives in its published report and attribute it to the individual or organization that provided it. The MAC appears to be interested in recruitment practices and whether these differ between EU and U.K. nationals, as well as EEA migration trends. BAL will continue discussions with clients on the impact that Brexit could have on workforce numbers, business operations and the retention of EU nationals.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group in the United Kingdom. For additional information, please contact uk@bal.com.

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