UK Government Promises to Focus on Sponsor Licence Abuse After 2023 ONS Net Migration Figure is Revised to 906,000 People
On 28 November 2024, the Office for National Statistics released their net migration figures. Later that day the prime minister’s office announced that there would be a press conference. Our Immigration Solicitors suspected that the conference would not contain good news for sponsor licence holders.
In this blog, our Sponsorship Licence Lawyers focus on the ONS net migration statistics and explain how the government plans to make life for key personnel, HR staff and business owners tougher.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For sponsor licence advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
The ONS Net Migration Figures
The ONS estimates UK net migration in the year ending June 2024 was 728,000 people. Some people are openly sceptical about the ONS figures because:
- The 2024 ONS figure of 728,000 people is an estimate – it could go up or down
- The ONS revised their net migration figure for the year ending June 2023 to 906,000 people
- The ONS net 2023 migration figure was originally 740,000 people
- The 2023 ONS net migration figures were ‘out’ by around 166,000 people
- In 2023 around 82,000 more people came to live in the UK than the ONS previously thought and 84,000 fewer people left the UK
You can read more about the ONS figures here.
Why Are ONS Net Migration Figures Estimates?
Most of us think that figures from the ONS are 100% reliable but even the ONS says that their figures need to be reviewed after publication.
How did the ONS underestimate the net 2023 migration figure by 166,000 people? To put the figure of 166,000 people into context, that’s like unexpectedly gaining the town of Rochdale with its population of 166,000 (according to Wikipedia).
The ONS gives several reasons for the revisions to the 2023 UK net migration figures:
- More available data
- More information on Ukraine Visas
- Improved estimates of migration of non-EU nationals
The 2024 Immigration Figures
Long-term immigration for the year ending June 2024 was estimated at 1.2 million. This figure is lower than the updated estimate of 1.3 million for the same period in 2023.
Interestingly, for sponsor licence holders, over 86% of migrants coming to the UK are non-EU nationals.
The Migration Observatory at the University of Oxford says the 2024 migration figures have reduced because:
- Most international students on Student Visas cannot now bring dependants with them on Dependant Visas
- Carers on Health and Care Worker Visas cannot be accompanied by dependants
- The minimum salary threshold for Skilled Worker Visa applicants has increased to £38,700
Migration Figures For Overseas Skilled Workers
Sponsor licence holders want to know if their experience of sponsored overseas recruitment is the same as for other businesses in the UK.
The Home Office has also published data on the Skilled Worker Visa and Health and Care Worker Visa revealing visa grants for the period July to September 2024. The information reveals:
- Successful Health and Care Worker Visa applications by Work Visa applicants were down 85% from quarter 3 of 2023 figures
- Successful Skilled Worker Visa applications reduced by 32% compared to quarter 3 of 2023 figures
- The number of Skilled Worker Visa applications declined from 17,800 in quarter 3 of 2023 to 12,100 in quarter 3 of 2024
- The hospitality sector fared worst with a 64% reduction in visas granted for skilled hospitality roles
Focus on Sponsor Licence Abuse
On 28 November, the prime minister announced that businesses who commit serious or repeat sponsor licence or employment offences face being banned from sponsoring overseas workers on Work Visas.
A Home Office press release said ‘’Shameless employers who commit serious offences will be banned from hiring overseas workers as part of a government crackdown on visa abuse and prevent exploitation’’.
The Home Office press release warns:
- Businesses that repeatedly flout visa rules or commit serious employment breaches, such as not paying the national minimum wage, will be banned from recruiting overseas workers
- Action plan times where sponsor licences have been suspended will increase from the current three-month period to 12 months
- The period for ‘repeat offenders’ to be prevented from securing another sponsor licence will be increased to at least two years, double the current length
- There will be changes to the cooling-off periods after a sponsor licence has been revoked
- They will crack down on employers who pass on charges to sponsored employees such as the unrecoverable costs of sponsorship
- They plan to clamp down on illegal working and exploitation of vulnerable overseas workers through increased enforcement action
Sponsor Licence Enforcement Statistics
The Home Office press release contains some information on enforcement and compliance action:
- From January to October 2024 6,600 compliance visits were made
- Compliance visits increased by 22% in the period January to October 2024
- In the period January to October 2024 over 4,600 arrests were made, a 21% increase from the previous year
- Since July 2022, around 450 sponsor licences in the care sector have been revoked
- Fifteen regional partnerships in England have received £16 million worth of funding to stop unethical international recruitment practices in the care sector
In his press conference, the prime minister said a White Paper will be published shortly setting out the plan to reduce immigration.
OTS Solicitors Work With Sponsor licence Holders and UK Business Owners
At OTS Solicitors our specialist Sponsorship Licence Lawyers provide:
- Comprehensive sponsor licence application advice
- Key personnel and Immigration Law Training
- Sponsor Licence Management Services
- Compliance mini-audits
- Speedy specialist legal advice when sponsor licences are at risk of suspension or revocation
Our Sponsorship Licence Lawyers welcome phone calls and online inquiries to discuss how we can tailor our services to meet the needs of your business.
UK Online and London-Based Immigration Solicitors and Sponsorship Licence Lawyers
For sponsor licence advice call OTS Solicitors on 0203 959 9123 or contact us online.
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