Responding to the Migration Advisory Committee interim report on EEA workers in the UK labour market, Brigid Simmonds, Chief Executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, today commented, “The Migration Advisory Committee’s interim report highlights the importance of migrant workers in the hospitality sector.
'A survey of BBPA members showed that brewing and pubs employ 17% of their workforce from overseas, but this rises to 40% in metropolitan areas and in some specialist areas such as kitchen staff, up to 80%. The interim report acknowledges that low unemployment does make it harder for businesses to recruit and retain workers and without doubt that is true for pubs in particular.
“We acknowledge that many in entry-level positions in our sector are paid the National Living Wage, but we do not see ourselves purely as a low pay sector. We employ huge numbers of young people - 46% of employees in pubs are under the age of 25.
'We are working hard as a sector to ensure that working in hospitality is seen as a career and continue to work with the Government to support proposals for a Tourism Sector Industrial Strategy which has a clear focus on skills.
“We are clear that any future immigration system must support the necessary levels of staffing in our sector. It has been good to see the Republic of Ireland changing their migration rules around the employment of chefs. There is a shortage of chefs here too and the experience required, rather than specific qualifications requirements does not fit well under Tier 2 of the current migration system.'
Simmonds concluded, 'As the leading voice for brewing and pubs we will continue to work closely with the Home Office on a post-Brexit migration system that best serves our sector and have made clear that the tier system needs reform. Additionally, we would like to see the Youth Mobility Scheme, which gives the freedom for young people to live and work in the UK for up to two years, extended to EU nationals.”