The United Kingdom (UK) has made it easier for construction companies to bring in workers from other countries. They have added certain construction jobs to the “shortage occupation list.” This list helps overcome the shortage of workers by making immigration simpler. The jobs on the list include bricklayers, roofers, carpenters, and plasterers.
However, this decision has put UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his party in a difficult situation. They have promised to reduce the number of people coming to the UK from other countries. But the construction industry still needs workers to grow.
A group called the Migration Advisory Committee suggested adding these construction jobs to the list. The list already includes jobs like care workers, civil engineers, and healthcare roles. This decision comes at a time when a record number of over 600,000 people moved to the UK last year.
People who are against the UK leaving the European Union (EU), known as Brexit, say that it has made the worker shortage worse. Before Brexit, people from the EU could easily come to the UK and work. Now, they need a visa.
For those coming to work in jobs from the shortage occupation list, the rules are a bit easier. They can earn 80 percent of the usual pay for the job and still get a visa. However, they need a job offer from an employer and must be able to speak English.