The MAC report

Earlier this year the UK Government asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to report on specific aspects of the Points Based System (PBS), namely:

1. What further changes to Tier 1 of the PBS should there be in 2010/11 given the changing economic circumstances?
2. Is there an economic case for restricting Tier 2 to shortage occupations only?
3. What is the MAC’s assessment of the economic contribution made by the dependants of PBS migrants and their role in the labour market?

The MAC has now completed its consideration of evidence submitted to it and on 19^th August 2009 it published its findings on points 2 and 3.  This report will be of interest to you if you currently have or are thinking of obtaining a sponsor licence.  The MAC is due to report on point 1 in October.

The main recommendations put forward by MAC are as follows:

• A Masters degree be awarded 15 points in Tier 2, instead of the current 10 points;
• A requirement for migrant workers outside of the EU to earn at least £20,000 and workers without qualifications to earn at least £32,000.

In terms of the Resident Labour Market Test route the MAC recommends that:

• The route be kept in place;
• The required duration of vacancy advertising be increased to four weeks for all jobs;
• The Government considers the scope for introducing a certification regime for at least those employers identified as high risk.

In terms of the intra-company transfer route the MAC recommends that:

• The route be kept in place;
• The route should not lead to a right to permanent residence;
• The qualifying period with the company overseas is extended from 6 to 12 months;
• A separate scheme is created for graduates only which would require 3 months prior experience with the company overseas, but with a maximum stay in the UK of 12 months.

The UK Border Agency is conducting a series of stakeholder consultation meetings to discuss the conclusions of the report before recommendations are made to the Government on the implementation of any changes to the PBS. 

It is likely that implementation of any policy changes will occur in the spring although it may be that Ministers will want a shorter timeframe for implementation.

The full report can be accessed here.