by Clair Mooney | 29 Jan, 2021 | Labour, Membership, Skills
In a report on CNews today, FIS has continued to raise concerns about potential labour shortages.
Iain McIlwee, FIS CEO commented: As the article in CN news reflets, the extent of the immigration issue is still very much unknown, but it is concerning, especially in our sector where over 40% of the workforce is from the EU. What we do know is that over 40% of our members are currently reporting a shortage and 60% are expecting one, how bad it will get we don’t fully know right now, but we anticipate that it will impact rates and programmes. The problem has two parts, the immediate concern over who will stay and settle, we are trying to understand the cliff ledge post-Christmas and there is potentially another one coming in the summer when the Right to Works checks kick in. But, that is only part of the problem – even if all the EU workers return and stay, our annual recruitment and training target has doubled over night, because many trades do not make it on the skilled or shortage occupation list and so the EU tap is well and truly off. If just 5-10% opt to ply their trade within the EU instead, this target triples, quadruples and so on. This is the number one concern for the FIS as we move into 2021 – the infrastructure and time just isn’t in place to solve this – realistically we need to see some relaxation of the rules to give us time to transition.
Read the full article here: Labour shortages could raise rates ‘at least 10%’
by Iain McIlwee | 2 Oct, 2020 | Labour, Main News Feed
In a disappointing report from the Migration Advisory Committee, there appears to be little hope of seeing the Shortage Occupations List (used within the new proposed Points Based Immigration System) of large parts of the construction industry being able to rely on any new immigration. Only shortages in Bricklayers and Welders were deemed significant enough for medium-skill occupations to be included in the shortage occupation list ahead of the introduction of a points-based immigration system on 1 January 2021.
FIS has raised concerns with officials from The Department of Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) that interior systems installers have not been included as an eligible occupation for the skilled worker route in the outline plans for a UK Points Based Immigration System post Brexit and continues to lobby through the Construction Leadership Council that urgent review is required.
A new points‐based immigration system which will apply to EU and non‐EU citizens and require those that want to work in the UK to meet a specific set of requirements. In addition to passing the relevant UK criminality checks, the job must have a salary of at least £20,480, and 50 points are ‘earned’ by meeting the following mandatory criteria:
- The applicant must have an offer of a job from a licensed sponsor
- The job must be at or above the minimum skill level: RQF3 level or equivalent (A level or equivalent qualification). Workers will not need to hold a formal qualification; it is the skill level of the job they will be doing which is important
- The applicant must speak English to an acceptable standard.
The report notes in key areas that a high proportion of self-employed workers within key trades means that there would be limited benefits even if it were added to the SOL.
The MAC provides independent advice on which medium-skill occupations should be included in the shortage occupation lists ahead of the introduction of a points-based immigration system on 1 January 2021.
Commenting on the report FIS CEO, Iain McIlwee stated: “We are being hit by a double whammy here, the nature of construction means how we engage labour is not akin to other parts of the economy and this simply hasn’t been reflected in Government thinking, added to this, the incentives to push through to Level 3 qualifications have not been strong enough and they have withered on the vine in some key trades. I also think that the impact of COVID adds to the problem, rather than alleviates as this report seems to suggest and if we are going to Build Build Build as the Prime Minister is suggesting, we need the bodies to do this. I think few would disagree that we do need to invest more in training as a sector, but the timing here means that we are expecting things to be tight in the New Year, this will impact programme and potentially quality. We are already getting reports from members that the availability of skilled workers in parts of the country is tight as workers from parts of Europe went home to ride out the pandemic and have decided not to return. We are recommending all members as a matter of urgency talk to their workers about applying for settled and pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme.”
You can read the full report here.
For information on the EU Settlement Scheme click here
FIS has prepared an overview paper based on concerns with the proposed UK Points Based Immigration System here.
by Clair Mooney | 25 Jan, 2019 | Labour, Main News Feed
The Home Office has published the future skills-based immigration system white paper which sets out the Government’s plans to introduce a new single immigration system, ending free movement.
Through Build UK, FIS has supported this important piece of work and we would like to thank all of our members who took the time to respond to the questionnaire. The report identifies occupations that are experiencing, or may experience shortages, of available staff in the UK construction sector.
Helen Yeulet, FIS skills delivery director said: ‘It is concerning, but not surprising to see a number of our interiors trades, pulled out in the list of “severe difficulties now” against the back drop of Brexit looming, with Drylining an obvious highlight,. We will be working with Build UK and other trade bodies to inform MPs and the relevant Ministers to ensure that the implications are understood.
Our views on the recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee are clear, they simply don’t address the very real problem we face in terms of delivering the skills we need in the numbers we need in a realistic timeframe. The supply chain absolutely understand the need to invest and develop our workforce and we have a very busy programme doing this, but setting arbitrary triggers around qualifications and salaries around need and demand makes no sense at all, creating a real risk to the construction sector.’
