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Government restrictions on business migration will damage economy, warns Law Society

15 September 2011

The Law Society has warned that the Coalition Government's plans for limiting business migration will damage the economy.

The Law Society says that proposals made in the UKBA's 'Employment Related Settlement Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers' consultation risk harm to the legal and other business sectors in the UK and will not provide fairness for migrants. The proposals are part of the Governments commitment to reduce the level of net migration to the UK to tens of thousands.

The Society represents the interests of the legal services sector which contributes £25 billion to the UK economy, much of which is generated by large City firms which operate in a global marketplace and rely on the expertise of skilled migrant workers from outside the EEA.

Law Society President John Wotton said the Coalition Government's commitment to reduce the level of net migration to the UK to the 'tens of thousands each year' by the end of the current parliament is looking increasingly unlikely, if not impossible, to achieve.

'In our discussions with a wide range of interests it is clear that business leaders recognise this, but are often reluctant to speak out because immigration is an emotive issue.

'We question the wisdom of the Government's determination to pursue policies designed to meet an unrealistic target at the cost of fairness to individual migrants and the competitiveness of UK business.

'Law firms turn to the international market because they are engaged in a global competition for talent with international firms from other jurisdictions, such as the USA. Global legal businesses are interested in recruiting only the best talent. Non-EEA migrants employed by law firms tend to be high earners. They will be spending their disposable income and paying taxes in the UK.

'The longer-term impact of restricting mobility of lawyers into the UK is likely to harm the competitiveness of firms and inhibit their ability to develop business internationally.

'The Law Society works with UK trade missions to open up international markets to UK business. UK immigration restrictions are being cited by other countries as a reason for resisting opening up their markets - why should they do so, if the UK is closing down opportunities in the other direction?'



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