MAC letter to the Home Secretary on the 2022 annual report (accessible)
Updated 31 January 2023
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Migration Advisory Committee
2nd Floor Peel Building NE
2 Marsham Street
London
SW1P 4DF
13th December 2022
Rt Hon Suella Braverman KC MP, Home Secretary
Dear Home Secretary,
I am pleased to advise you that we have published the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) Annual Report for 2022, a copy of which has been provided to your office.
The report comments on the potential for exploitation of migrants within the UK’s labour market, exploring the spectrum of exploitative practices that can exist and the degree to which migrant workers may be more likely to be vulnerable to exploitation as a result of their status, including whether the immigration system itself is responsible for creating these vulnerabilities. We provide insight on the state of the current UK labour market and how businesses seem to be responding to the new immigration system, taking into account the effects of the ending of Freedom of Movement and the COVID-19 pandemic. We have also examined how the immigration system is being used within and across the nations and regions of the UK and present considerations regarding the role immigration could play in responding to the varying demographic and labour market challenges present across the UK.
Alongside the Annual Report, we have also published an associated Annual Governance Report, providing transparency of the MAC’s spending, engagement, and published research and analysis.
Having been commissioned to review the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) in August, we were subsequently asked to pause this work pending clarification on the Government’s priorities surrounding the Skilled Worker route. We look forward to receiving a final decision on this commission as soon as possible.
We are deeply disappointed that the Government is yet to respond to our report on the impact of the ending of Freedom of Movement on the Adult Social Care sector published in April of this year. Whilst it has been positive that care workers were added to the health and care worker visa and SOL in line with our recommendations, we made a series of other key recommendations we believe would help tackle the low pay and poor recruitment and retention currently embedded within the sector, issues we encourage the Department of Health and Social Care to treat with more urgency than is currently being exhibited.
We look forward in the coming year to continue advising the Government on the development of an immigration policy that enhances the welfare of the people of the United Kingdom.
On behalf of the Migration Advisory Committee
Yours sincerely,
Professor Brian Bell
Chair, Migration Advisory Committee
cc:
Robert Jenrick, Immigration Minister
Matthew Rycroft, Permanent Secretary
Tricia Hayes, Second Permanent Secretary
Emma Churchill, Director General Migration and Borders Group