New PM asked to cut migrant salary threshold by business

The UK's next prime minister has been urged to cut the salary threshold for migrants from £30,000 to £20,000 by business group London First.

The group, which includes the British Retail Consortium, the Recruitment and Employment Confederation and UKHospitality, has written to both Jeremy Hunt and Boris Johnson saying the threshold must be lowered to ensure industries can access the talent they need.

Home secretary Sajid Javid last month asked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to reassess the planned salary threshold of £30,000, which is set to take effect from 2021.

Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive at London First, said: "The home secretary has heeded our call for a review of the salary threshold for overseas workers. With firms already having to deal with chronic skills shortages, the Migration Advisory Committee must now reduce its recommended £30,000 salary threshold to ensure the economy can access the skills its needs.

"It should set a new threshold in line with the London Living Wage at £20,850, which would ensure we can attract the talent we need from around the globe, avoid a recruitment cliff edge and ensure workers are decently paid."

Sajid Javid reviews £30k post-Brexit migrant pay threshold>>