The UK government is thinking of launching a short-term visa scheme that would aid in bringing in foreign employees without influencing population growth rates and addressing employment shortages in the hospitality industry.
The Home Office has reportedly begun talks with several EU nations for expanded youth mobility programmes while maintaining stable net migration rates after the UK achieved an all-time high migration rate last year, according to sources in The Times.
Specifically, the proposals would allow young people aged between 18 and 30 to work in the UK for up to two years without employer sponsorship, while being exempt from skills and applicable UK wages for current skilled people. worker flow. This means that employers can use this program to fill entry-level positions within their company.
The decision, if adopted, will help the UK's hospitality industry, which has been hit hard by Brexit, the pandemic and the bad economy in recent years. The hospitality sector used to be one of the favorites among workers in the EU, but new post-Brexit immigration regulations have impacted people's desire to be employed in specific positions such as waiters, waitresses, waiters, and waitresses. bartenders and housewives.
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FILE PHOTO: European Union flags flutter outside the European Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, June 5, 2020. REUTERS/Yves Herman/File Photo[/caption]
The number of vacancies in this sector has decreased over the past year, although the sector continues to face staff shortages. Trade body UKHospitality estimates employment rates in the sector are around 48 per cent higher than pre-pandemic levels.
“Anything that can help us with the recruitment of the staff we need to get our businesses fully up and running again is welcome and will make such a difference. We would also like the visa scheme to go beyond the EU, extend to the likes of India, and extend the roles it would apply to where we are currently experiencing shortages,” Raphael Herzog, Chair of the Bristol Hoteliers Association (BHA), said.
He also noted that current proposals would include positions such as bartenders and waitresses, but would also be welcome to include chefs, therapists, room attendants and others. .
Currently, the Skilled Worker pathway allows Approved Sponsors to recruit hospitality industry personnel into a limited number of qualifying roles, such as Hotel and Inn Owners and Managers. (1.221), Restaurant and restaurant manager and owner. manager (1,224), chef (5,434) and restaurant and bar manager (5,436).
On the other hand, British workers in other countries such as Switzerland occupy some of the most important management positions in the country, with 44.3% of workers of this nationality occupying more qualified positions.