Recommendation 15

HM Government Rejected

It is not the intention of the Government to introduce a general immigration route allowing recruitment at, or near, the minimum wage with relatively short work-based training requirements - nor to institute a ‘recovery visa’ of a similar nature. The Home Office are equally clear that, whilst the immigration system needs to continue to provide the economy with access to the skills and talent it needs to grow, the system should not be seen as an alternative for employers to avoid improving pay and conditions for its workforce – which the Government views as the key long-term and sustainable solution for sectors looking to fill labour gaps. Nonetheless, the Government recognises that labour and skills shortages, coupled with pent-up demand, pose a threat to wider recovery efforts. There are a number of measures in place to mitigate this risk and address the existing gaps in knowledge. For example, the Government launched the Hospitality Sector Council to oversee the delivery of the Hospitality Strategy in July 2021. The Government engages regularly with hospitality businesses and organizations to understand the pressing issues and challenges that they face, including labour market issues such as staff vacancies, wage levels, and migration issues. The Hospitality and Tourism Skills Board is the main forum under the Sector Council leading this work, in partnership between business and government. While the unprecedented circumstances posed by the pandemic left the sector facing many challenges, DCMS will continue to work with industry and across departments to encourage the transition from recovery through to resilience.