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<p>The Government has no plans to introduce a general immigration route allowing recruitment
at or near the minimum wage, with relatively short work-based training requirements,
nor will there be another similar visa concession to the HGV temporary scheme.</p><p>
</p><p>We have no plans to extend the skills threshold below RQF level 3 unless there
are truly exceptional circumstances, such as adding care workers to the Shortage Occupation
List (SOL). The Government has recently commissioned the Migration Advisory Committee
(MAC) to undertake a review of the SOL. We expect the MAC will shortly launch its
call for evidence and we encourage interested stakeholders to respond.</p><p> </p><p>Our
immigration system is not aiming to replicate the free movement which previously existed
between the UK and the EU. The Government recognises some businesses are needing to
adjust, but investment and development of the UK’s domestic labour force should take
priority, rather than seeing cheap migrant labour as the solution to recruitment difficulties.</p><p>
</p><p>Beyond the Points Based System is a wide labour market, which includes UK workers
and migrants with general work rights. Businesses should therefore engage with the
Department for Work and Pensions in the first instance about the support they can
provide.</p>
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