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Government advisory to continue to target migrants in key worker roles despite their ‘essential’ role during Covid-19 pandemic

THE head of a committee advising ministers on the new immigration system said today that proposals to shut the door on many key workers should not change in light of the pandemic.

But care-workers’ union Unison condemned the remarks, saying they betrayed little understanding of the sector’s requirements.

Migration advisory committee (MAC) chairman Brian Bell told MPs that plans to remove immigration routes for low-paid foreign workers should not be changed despite many of those roles having been recognised as “essential” during the Covid-19 crisis.  

Giving evidence to a home-affairs select committee on the Immigration Bill today morning, Mr Bell said that the government should stick to its plans given the current “uncertainty” in the labour market and economy.

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