Government
restrictions on business migration will damage economy, warns Law
Society
The Law Society has warned that
the Coalition Government's plans for limiting business migration
will damage the economy.
The Law Society says that
proposals made in the UKBA's 'Employment Related Settlement
Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers' consultation risk harm to the
legal and other business sectors in the UK and will not provide
fairness for migrants. The proposals are part of the Governments
commitment to reduce the level of net migration to the UK to tens
of thousands.
The Society represents the
interests of the legal services sector which contributes 25
billion to the UK economy, much of which is generated by large City
firms which operate in a global marketplace and rely on the
expertise of skilled migrant workers from outside the
EEA.
Law Society President John
Wotton said the Coalition Government's commitment to reduce the
level of net migration to the UK to the 'tens of thousands
each year' by the end of the current parliament is looking
increasingly unlikely, if not impossible, to achieve.
'In our discussions with a
wide range of interests it is clear that business leaders recognise
this, but are often reluctant to speak out because immigration is
an emotive issue.
'We question the wisdom of
the Government's determination to pursue policies designed to meet
an unrealistic target at the cost of fairness to individual
migrants and the competitiveness of UK business.
'Law firms turn to
the international market because they are engaged in a global
competition for talent with international firms from other
jurisdictions, such as the USA. Global legal businesses are
interested in recruiting only the best talent. Non-EEA migrants
employed by law firms tend to be high earners. They will be
spending their disposable income and paying taxes in the
UK.
'The longer-term impact of
restricting mobility of lawyers into the UK is likely to harm the
competitiveness of firms and inhibit their ability to develop
business internationally.
'The Law Society works
with UK trade missions to open up international markets to UK
business. UK immigration restrictions are being cited by other
countries as a reason for resisting opening up their markets - why
should they do so, if the UK is closing down opportunities in the
other direction?'
Ends
Notes to Editors:
Contact: Catherine Reed, The Law
Society
+44 (0)20 7320 5902