The Migration Advisory Committee

This section describes the work of the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).

The information in this section is produced by the MAC's Secretariat. The Secretariat is independent of the UK Border Agency.

Parts of this section were archived following the formation of the current UK government in May 2010. To view the section as it appeared prior to May 2010, visit the UK government web archive.

MAC puts Annual Report 2012/13 online - 16 July 2013

The Migration Advisory Committee Research page has been updated - July 2013.

MAC publishes the report 'Migrant Seasonal Workers: The impact on the horticulture and food processing sectors of closing the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme and the Sectors Based Scheme' (14 May 2013)

At the end of 2013, the transitional restrictions on access to the UK labour market for Bulgarian and Romanian workers will be removed and the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme and the Sectors Based Scheme will close. Following a commission from the Government the MAC has today published a report which examines the impact on the horticulture and food processing sectors of closing the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme and the Sectors Based Scheme.

This report presents the MAC's findings. For a summary of the main findings please see the press release.

"MAC commissioned to advise on migration into the UK for the purposes of taking up low-skilled work, the factors that drive this and its economic and social impacts (10 May 2013)

The Government has asked the MAC to advise on the reasons behind the growth of migration into low-skilled jobs, how this migration has evolved and the labour market, economic and social impacts of this migration on the UK and specifically on British workers.

The Government has asked that the MAC examine the following issues, distinguishing where possible between EEA and non-EEA migrants:

1. The extent to which, and the reasons why, employers actively choose to recruit migrant workers and through which channels.
2. Why these migrant workers are attracted to coming to work in the UK, and how the UK compares with other countries in this context.
3. The extent to which migrant labour fills gaps in UK domestic labour supply for low-skilled work and whether the work they find is a match for the skills they bring.
4. Whether there are structural or cultural issues which inhibit the recruitment of UK-born workers, including issues such as motivations and attitudes to work. Consideration should also be given to the interaction of factors including skills, housing, education provision, the benefits system and labour market regulation, with a view to making recommendations as to possible actions here.

The MAC has been asked to report to the Government by the end of April 2014.

A call for evidence will be issued during late summer/early autumn this year. In the meantime, if you would like to contribute to this work or register your interest please do so via MAC@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk

MAC publishes the report 'Full review of the recommended shortage occupation lists for the UK and Scotland, a sunset clause and the creative occupations' (15 February 2013)

The MAC has today published a report on the full review of the recommended shortage occupation lists for the UK and Scotland, a sunset clause and the creative occupations. On 20 August 2012 the Minister for Immigration commissioned the MAC to undertake a review of the shortage occupation lists for the UK and Scotland and to advise on proposals to automatically remove occupations from the shortage occupation list after 2 years (sunset clause).

The MAC was also asked to assess whether creative occupations should continue to be included in Tier 2 of the points-based system. This report presents the MAC's findings and recommendations. For a summary of the MAC's main recommendations please see the press release.

Appointment of new MAC members (21 December 2012)

Professor Jackline Wahba from the University of Southampton and Dr Jennifer Smith from Warwick University have been appointed onto the MAC replacing Dr Diane Coyle and Professor Rob Wilson whose appointments to the commitee have come to an end. The appointments were made by the Home Office in compliance with the rules set out by the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments and run from December 2012 for 3 years. Further details on the two new members will be published on this website shortly.

Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) research project expressions of interest (21 November 2012)

Expressions of interest are being sought to carry out a piece of research for the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), provisionally entitled 'Analysis of the impacts of Tier 1 (Investor) and Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) migrants on the UK economy.'

The MAC is commissioning this research to build on the existing evidence base around the Tier 1 (Entrepreneur) and Tier 1 (Investor) routes in order to further develop understanding of the impacts of these routes. More details can be obtained on the research at business link.

Call for evidence on the review of the impact of ending the employment restrictions on nationals of Bulgaria and Romania on the agriculture and food processing sectors (22 October 2012)

The MAC has launched a call for evidence in relation to the commission from the Government outlined below, asking the MAC to undertake a review of the impact of ending the employment restrictions on nationals of Bulgaria and Romania on the agriculture and food processing sectors. At the end of 2013, the transitional restrictions on access to the UK labour market for Bulgarian and Romanian workers will be removed and the current Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme (SAWS) and Sectors Based Scheme (SBS) will close. This call for evidence document sets out the Government commission and questions on which the MAC seeks views and evidence from partners. In particular, the MAC welcomes responses from SAWS and SBS operators and other labour suppliers, agricultural and food processing businesses who use migrant workers from these two schemes or who have found alternative sources of labour, relevant trade associations and unions and other experts in the subject area. The MAC are keen to meet with partners to discuss the issues. This document details of how to respond to the MAC call for evidence. The deadline for responses is 18 January 2013.

MAC publishes report on the list of occupations skilled at NQF level 6 and above and review of the Tier 2 codes of practice (17 October 2012)

The MAC has today published a report on the list of occupations skilled at NQF level 6 and above and review of the Tier 2 codes of practice. On 27 April 2012 the Minister for Immigration commissioned the MAC to undertake a review of the Tier 2 codes of practice. This report presents the MAC's findings and recommendations. For a summary on the MAC's main recommendations please see the press release.

Call for evidence on the review of the shortage occupation lists for the UK and Scotland and creative occupations (18 September 2012)

Further to the commission from the Government outlined below asking the MAC to undertake a review of the shortage occupation lists for the UK and for Scotland and to assess whether creative occupations should continue to be included in Tier 2 of the points-based system, the MAC has launched a call for evidence. The call for evidence document seeks views and evidence from corporate partners to help the MAC respond to the Government's commission. The document also sets out some initial dates for meetings with interested parties and includes details of how to respond to the MAC. The deadline for responses is 30 November 2012.

MAC commissioned to review the shortage occupation list for the UK and for Scotland and creative occupations (20 August 2012)

On 20 August the Minister for Immigration commissioned the MAC to undertake a review of the shortage occupation list for the UK and for Scotland and also to assess whether creative occupations should continue to be included within Tier 2 of the points-based system. Specifically, the MAC has been asked the following questions:

1. In which occupations or job titles skilled to at least NQF level 6 is there a shortage of labour that it would be sensible to fill using labour from outside the EEA and which merit inclusion on the shortage occupation list (SOL)?

2. The Government has indicated that it wishes to remove from the SOL all occupations that have been on it for more than a given period, in principle two years, regardless of shortages affecting the sectors concerned. This reflects the fact that inclusion on the SOL is intended to provide temporary relief while measures are taken to mitigate the shortages. The MAC is asked to advise on:

• a standard period after which removal from the SOL should become automatic and whether exceptions should be permitted; and,
• whether a transitional period should be accorded to those occupations currently on the SOL and which have exceeded the advised standard period.

In advising on 2 the MAC should have regard to time already spent on the SOL and mitigation measures taken, plans for further mitigation measures and the business impact of removal from the SOL.

3. Tier 2 is now reserved for occupations skilled to at least NQF level 6 and in general the SOL should be aligned with that policy. For those job titles currently on the SOL which are not skilled to NQF level 6, is there a shortage of labour that it would be sensible to fill using labour from outside the EEA and, a case for retaining them on the list?

If so, which pay limit should be applied in the relevant codes of practice for those job titles which the MAC recommends for an addition on the SOL?

4. The government has retained within Tier 2 the following creative occupations in the arts and design field which are not skilled to NQF level 6: artists, authors, actors, dancers and designers. Does the MAC see a case for continued inclusion of certain creative occupations in Tier 2 and, if so, on what terms?

The MAC has been asked to report to the Minister by 31 January 2013 and will shortly launch a call for evidence in relation to this commission.

MAC puts Framework document online (6 August 2012)

The MAC has made available its Framework document. This sets out how the MAC operates and the terms of its sponsorship arrangement with the Home Office.

MAC commissioned to review the impact of ending the employment restrictions on Bulgarian and Romanian (A2) nationals (1 August 2012)

On 1 August the Minister for Immigration commissioned the MAC to undertake a review of the impact of ending the restrictions on A2 workers. Specifically, the MAC has been asked the following question:

The current transitional restrictions on A2 workers will be removed at the end of 2013 and the current sector-based schemes for A2 workers (covering agriculture and food processing) will then close. What impact across the whole of the UK will this have on the sectors currently covered by the sector-based schemes?

The MAC has been asked to report to the Minister by 31 March 2013. The MAC welcome evidence from interested parties and it will engage with relevant partners through meetings and events across the UK in due course.

Advertisement for Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) member (2 positions) - Wednesday 4 July

Please see the attached advertisement for the recruitment of 2 members for the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC). This advertisement has also been placed on the following websites today;

www.Economist.com
www.jobs.guardian.co.uk
www.jobs.ac.uk
www.rss.org.uk

The advertisement will also appear on the Royal Economic Society website, as well as their printed publication, from 15 July.

Please note the closing date for receiving applications is Wednesday 25 July.

Call for evidence on the review of the Tier 2 codes of practice

Further to the commission from the Government outlined below asking the MAC to review the Tier 2 codes of practice, the MAC has launched a call for evidence to gather views and evidence from corporate partners to help the MAC respond to the Government's questions. The document also sets out some initial dates for meetings with interested parties.

The call for evidence document includes details of how to respond to the MAC. The deadline for responses is 27 July 2012.

MAC commissioned to review the Tier 2 codes of practice (27 April 2012)

On 27 April the Minister for Immigration commissioned the MAC to undertake a review of the Tier 2 codes of practice. Specifically, the MAC has been asked to:

• update the list of occupations skilled to National Qualifications Framework 6 (NQF6) to reflect the new SOC 2010 classification;
• advise on the design of the Codes of Practice framework including:

• how the current codes could be simplified or streamlined;
• whether and how the consistency of approach across different sectors and occupations could be improved; and,
• how often and in what manner the Codes of Practice should be updated;

• advise minimum appropriate salary rate for occupations and, where necessary, separate occupation minimum salary for both new entrants and experienced employees; and,
• advise on what the appropriate advertising requirements under the Resident Labour Market should be.

The MAC has been asked to report to the minister by 30 September 2012.

The MAC will be eliciting the views of partners through a call for evidence. This will be launched in the next 2 weeks on this website and events and meetings with partners will be held until the end of July.

MAC publishes report on the limit on Tier 2 (General) for 2012/13 and associated policies (28 February 2012)

The MAC has today published a report on the limit on Tier 2 (General) for 2012/13 and associated policies.

In October 2011 the Government asked the MAC to advise at what level should the limit on Tier 2 (General) be set at for 2012, taking account of the economic, labour market, social and public service impacts of the limit; and of the uptake of Tier 2 (General) and intra-company transferee visas in 2011/12. The MAC was also asked to consider some associated policies, including the intra-company transfer route, the resident labour market test and the minimum skill level for Tier 2. This report presents the MAC's findings and recommendations.

The MAC has also published 2 research reports today. The external research reports are available on the Migration Advisory Committee research page.

MAC publishes report on the impacts of migration (10 January 2012)

In May 2011 the Government asked the MAC to 'research the labour market, social and public service impacts of non-EEA migration; and to advise on the use of such evidence in cost-benefit analysis of migration policy decisions.'

The MAC has today published a report that addresses this question.

It is also publishing 6 external research reports, which it commissioned to inform the above work. The views expressed in these reports reflect those of the contractors and not necessarily those of the MAC.

The MAC report and the external research reports are available on the Analysis of the impacts of migration page.

MAC publishes report on the family migration route (16 November 2011)

The MAC has today published a report on the minimum income requirement for sponsorship under the family migration route.

In July 2011 the government asked the MAC to consider the following question: 'What should the minimum income threshold be for sponsoring spouses/partners and dependants in order to ensure that the sponsor can support his/her spouse or civil or other partner and any dependants independently without them becoming a burden on the State.' The MAC report addresses this question.

MAC publishes reports on settlement and restrictions on workers from Bulgaria and Romania (4 November 2011)

The MAC has today published a report to the government on how to determine which skilled migrant workers can settle in the UK. The MAC was commissioned by the government in June 2011 to identify the most suitable economic criteria for determining which Tier 2 migrant workers could settle permanently in the UK and what the economic effects of restricting or removing Tier 1 or Tier 2 settlement rights would be.

The MAC has also today published a report to the government on the current employment restrictions on workers from Bulgaria and Romania. The MAC was asked in May 2011 to consider whether the UK labour market is currently experiencing, or threatened by a serious disturbance, and to look at the consequences of maintaining or lifting the current employment restrictions on workers from these countries.

Call for evidence on the level of the annual limit on Tier 2 and associated policies (26 October 2011)

The MAC has launched a call for evidence to run for 8 weeks on the level of the limit on Tier 2 of the points-based ystem in 2012/13 and associated policies, including the intra-company transfer route, the resident labour market test and the minimum skill level for Tier 2. This follows a commission from the Minister for Immigration.

The MAC invites evidence in response to this commission, and a call for an evidence document has been produced setting out details of the commission and how to respond. The deadline for evidence to be sent to the MAC is 21 December 2011.