Still no certainty over workers’ status, warns FTA

The Freight Transport Association has criticised an interim report on the status of workers from the European Economic Area saying it fails to answer the questions which logistics businesses have about future workforce levels.

The full report by the Migration Advisory Committee is due to be published in September 2018, but the FTA says that is too late for employers who are concerned about their employee strategy after Brexit.

“Today’s MAC interim report has confirmed what the logistics sector already knew, however it is yet to provide the clarification which our members require on the future status of European workers in the logistics industry,” said head of skills Sally Gilson.”This lack of certainty over workers’ future status is causing huge concern for employees as well as employers, which rely on European labour to ensure that Britain’s supply chain continues to operate at the optimum level. Government needs to take note of the interim report and decide future systems now.

“Of particular concern are those lower skilled EU workers, who under current migration systems would not be considered eligible for special terms under the skills shortage occupation list. These workers provide vital manpower in an industry which is often highly labour intensive, and their contribution to Britain’s trading relationships cannot be ignored. It is encouraging that the final report will investigate whether the skills shortage occupation list methodology needs to be revised, to accommodate these vital professions, but that work will come too late for logistics businesses which need certainty on workforce levels now to plan with confidence for the future.”

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