The newly introduced proposal by the Government to place strict controls on overseas recruitment will fundamentally alter the UK job market.
For HR, the new proposals have ushered in a number of considerations that must be made to support existing workers and pave the way for staying compliant with the new regulations.
Here is what you should know about the changes and how they impact your business.
What has changed?
While nothing concrete has come into force yet, the tone of the current political climate points to a tightening of recruiting from overseas.
The Government is proposing that migrant workers will need to have lived in the UK for 10 years before they can apply for citizenship, thus impacting their overall access to work.
Employers seeking to employ international workers will need to demonstrate that they are investing in British workers and are working to upskill UK talent as well.
How to prepare for the proposed changes?
HR may want to take the time now to begin implementing changes to keep ahead of the proposals made by the Government.
It may be important to provide additional support for workers who were not born in the UK, as it is possible that the current discussions may be causing them some concern.
Working to provide reassurances and support, and highlighting the value of the workforce, is an essential part of the HR process.
Training is also a valuable resource that can be leveraged before these proposals progress.
Demonstrating a robust, holistic approach to staff growth and training, regardless of where the staff member originated, could be an effective way of highlighting the value each worker brings.
It will also aid with a potential compliance issue going forward, as it remains unclear how the Government intends to quantify the notion of investing in British workers.
As the proposals are still vague, there are some sectors that may end up following different rules.
Construction and care may require different regulations, and these are currently being considered.
If this is the case, then supporting workers in these sectors may involve assisting with the processing of additional paperwork.
In general, good record keeping is likely to be the most effective way of staying compliant with the new changes, whatever they are and whenever they get implemented.
It is unlikely that these proposals are going to dissipate as tightening immigration is being pushed for by a number of political parties.
Therefore, it is best to stay ahead of the changes and support the workforce wherever it is possible to do so.
