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Migration Advisory Committee advice on worker registration scheme accepted
08 April 2009
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is pleased that the Government has today decided to accept its advice and maintain the Worker Registration Scheme (WRS) for a further two years.
The WRS was introduced in 2004 in order to register A8 nationals who are allowed to come and work in the UK. This allows the Government to collect information on those who come to live and work here.
The European Treaty of Accession means that the WRS will automatically come to an end in 2011, but had to be reviewed after five years. The Government asked the MAC, an independent advisory body, to consider whether it should continue until that time.
The MAC advised that the scheme should remain in place for workers from the A8 countries who want to come and work in the UK.
MAC member Dr Diane Coyle OBE, said:
"We are pleased that the Government has accepted our advice. Our recommendation to keep the worker registration scheme (WRS) in place was made in the best interests of the UK given the current economic challenges.
We believe that abolishing the WRS now might slightly reduce the number of jobs available to UK workers, and that the Government should continue to monitor those who come to the UK seeking employment.
We will continue to provide evidence-based recommendations to the Government on immigration issues such as the points based system, including the shortage occupation list."
In undertaking this report, the MAC consulted with stakeholders from across the UK and the A8 countries.