Business unites on future immigration system

In an open letter to the Home Secretary, the CBI alongside CIPD, FSB, BCC, IoD and over 30 leading trade associations offer government help with designing the new immigration system.

The signatories welcomed recent indications from government about reducing the £30,000 minimum salary threshold and scrapping the net migration target, which have sent positive and important signals around the world that the UK is open for business.

The letter makes clear that business understands the immigration system must change in order to re-build public confidence. It also outlines how business can provide insight to help build a new points-based system that both provides greater control, as well as access to the labour and skills needed to support the economy.

The letter sets out four key priorities that will help to ensure the new system works on day one for all UK regions and nations:

• A minimum salary threshold can work if it is set at a level that supports the economy and protects wages
• Flexibility for skilled workers to enter the UK through a points-based system
• A temporary visa route which supports all sectors of the economy
• A radically reformed sponsorship process in place for the first day of operation.

It concludes by highlighting the need for a simple, streamlined and affordable system that meets business’ needs of all sizes, sectors and across all UK regions and nations.