Could recruitment process pay border ‘deposit’ for overseas hires?
22 March 2013
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has suggested this morning the development of a system whereby some immigrants would pay a ‘deposit’ on entering the country, returnable on exit – and Recruiter hears that there could be scope for recruiters or employers to shoulder this cost.
Fri, 22 Mar 2013
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has suggested this morning the development of a system whereby some immigrants would pay a ‘deposit’ on entering the country, returnable on exit – and Recruiter hears that there could be scope for recruiters or employers to shoulder this cost.
One idea he suggested for dealing with workers who arrive or stay in Britain illegally is allowing the UK Border Agency “to request a deposit – a kind of cash guarantee. Once the visitor leaves Britain, the bond will be repaid.” Consultations on the idea are to commence, Clegg added.
A spokesperson for Clegg’s Liberal Democrat party tells Recruiter that the consultation would look at whether recruiters or end employers would themselves be able to pay such a fee, saying “they want to make sure people who are coming for work, can do so”.
While The Daily Telegraph suggests such payments would start at a minimum of £1,000, the spokesperson would not be drawn on potential amounts, saying that full details would only be announced once consultations had concluded, with a decision to be made before the next general election as to whether this would become part of official Lib Dem policy.
Clegg adds: “The bonds would need to be well-targeted – so that they don’t unfairly discriminate against particular groups. The amounts would need to be proportionate.
“In today’s world, illegal immigration happens in different ways – and we need to think innovatively to keep up.”
Clegg also underlined that with a Dutch mother, half-Russian father, and Spanish wife, he is “immensely proud of this nation’s wonderful diversity and openness”, concluded by saying that a priority for migration policy is “that immigration as a whole benefits Britain and British citizens”.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg has suggested this morning the development of a system whereby some immigrants would pay a ‘deposit’ on entering the country, returnable on exit – and Recruiter hears that there could be scope for recruiters or employers to shoulder this cost.
One idea he suggested for dealing with workers who arrive or stay in Britain illegally is allowing the UK Border Agency “to request a deposit – a kind of cash guarantee. Once the visitor leaves Britain, the bond will be repaid.” Consultations on the idea are to commence, Clegg added.
A spokesperson for Clegg’s Liberal Democrat party tells Recruiter that the consultation would look at whether recruiters or end employers would themselves be able to pay such a fee, saying “they want to make sure people who are coming for work, can do so”.
While The Daily Telegraph suggests such payments would start at a minimum of £1,000, the spokesperson would not be drawn on potential amounts, saying that full details would only be announced once consultations had concluded, with a decision to be made before the next general election as to whether this would become part of official Lib Dem policy.
Clegg adds: “The bonds would need to be well-targeted – so that they don’t unfairly discriminate against particular groups. The amounts would need to be proportionate.
“In today’s world, illegal immigration happens in different ways – and we need to think innovatively to keep up.”
Clegg also underlined that with a Dutch mother, half-Russian father, and Spanish wife, he is “immensely proud of this nation’s wonderful diversity and openness”, concluded by saying that a priority for migration policy is “that immigration as a whole benefits Britain and British citizens”.
- Debate around the potential effects of EU expansion on migration into the UK has been a hot topic, with Romania and Bulgaria due to see freedom of movement restrictions on their citizens lifted early next year. The UK – and as reported by recruiter.co.uk previously, the Netherlands – is looking to put similar temporary restrictions on Croatian workers.
