Work permits - employers crying wolf?

July 08, 2011

Statistics just published by the Home Office show that, in the first three months in which the cap on economic migration has been operating, less than half of the work permits available have been taken up by employers.

4,200 were available for the first month to cope with a possible rush and 1,500 are to be allocated each month until March 2012. Of the 7,200 permits made available so far only about 2,500 have been allocated.

Commenting, Sir Andrew Green, chairman of Migrationwatch UK, said "Given all the fuss made by industry about the perils of a cap on economic migration, this is a remarkable outcome. It seems that the employers have been crying wolf".