The new proposed points system has been a hot topic over the past weeks. Especially relevant is what seems to be a total stop to allowing "unskilled" labour into the country.
The three relevant barriers to our industry are:
1. Basic ability to speak English
2. 25k a year job
3. A-level or equivalent qualification
Failing to meet two of the three above will prohibit the person to work in the UK.
To put it into perspective these are the official migrant labour (labour without UK passport) numbers from 2018
7% of workers in the construction industry in the UK are EU27 nationals and 3% are non-EU
In London, 28% of construction workers are EU27 nationals and 7% are non-EU nationals
41% of those working in construction were self-employed
33% of the resident non-UK nationals who work in construction occupations in the UK work in general labour
If this system is implemented it looks like it will be next to impossible to come over to UK to work as a labourer, or to come over and be self employed -since you have no sponsor AND can't show a contract with a 25k a year salary (we are talking about manual workers shere not artists or mathematicians)
I think this will cause a ripple effect, as shortage is going to be felt the keenest in London I can see existing migrants going to the capital to plug the shortage and take advantage of higher wages which London construction firms can afford thanks to the very prosperous housing market. I can see younger school leavers or apprentices dropping education and doing labouring if the rates are good enough (and it doesnt take much to beat apprentice plumber's wage). Also manual workers at large leaving domestic services and going into building sites for that same reason.
Ultimately with people potentially transfering from the domestic side of things, less youngsters willing to suffer the long apprenticeships, and fewer migrants coming in to do the dometic / self employed thing (when sites can offer wages and less emphasis on having good English) will we see the ressurection of the "minted plumber" stereotype from not so long ago? Or is this whole system a load of white wash with higher proportion of our migrants becoming "illegal" technically but for all intents and purposes nothing changing at all?
Thoughts?
The three relevant barriers to our industry are:
1. Basic ability to speak English
2. 25k a year job
3. A-level or equivalent qualification
Failing to meet two of the three above will prohibit the person to work in the UK.
To put it into perspective these are the official migrant labour (labour without UK passport) numbers from 2018
7% of workers in the construction industry in the UK are EU27 nationals and 3% are non-EU
In London, 28% of construction workers are EU27 nationals and 7% are non-EU nationals
41% of those working in construction were self-employed
33% of the resident non-UK nationals who work in construction occupations in the UK work in general labour
If this system is implemented it looks like it will be next to impossible to come over to UK to work as a labourer, or to come over and be self employed -since you have no sponsor AND can't show a contract with a 25k a year salary (we are talking about manual workers shere not artists or mathematicians)
I think this will cause a ripple effect, as shortage is going to be felt the keenest in London I can see existing migrants going to the capital to plug the shortage and take advantage of higher wages which London construction firms can afford thanks to the very prosperous housing market. I can see younger school leavers or apprentices dropping education and doing labouring if the rates are good enough (and it doesnt take much to beat apprentice plumber's wage). Also manual workers at large leaving domestic services and going into building sites for that same reason.
Ultimately with people potentially transfering from the domestic side of things, less youngsters willing to suffer the long apprenticeships, and fewer migrants coming in to do the dometic / self employed thing (when sites can offer wages and less emphasis on having good English) will we see the ressurection of the "minted plumber" stereotype from not so long ago? Or is this whole system a load of white wash with higher proportion of our migrants becoming "illegal" technically but for all intents and purposes nothing changing at all?
Thoughts?
