Migrant worker restriction to impact hospitality sector, UKHospitality warns

The trade body stressed that restricting potential applicants will be a “disaster” for the sector.

Restricting migrant workers will likely impact businesses in the hospitality sector, UKHospitality has warned.

The trade body is against the further consequences of restricting the number of migrant workers in the UK after non-UK-born workers decreased by 58,000 during April to June from the same period last year. Concerned with the shrinking numbers before Brexit, they stressed that the country’s low unemployment rate drives them to hire workers from other areas.

“We have already voiced our concerns about the ability of employers to recruit post-Brexit, but the worrying reality is that numbers of non-UK workers are dwindling, and we haven’t even left the EU yet. If the talent pool continues to shrink, then businesses will be unable to invest and grow their businesses,” UKHospitality Chief Executive Kate Nicholls said.

“Even more concerning for hospitality businesses is the Government’s intention to implement an immigration policy that favours higher-skilled technical jobs at the expense of others. Restricting potential applicants into the hospitality sector further, when the number of non-UK workers is already shrinking, will be a disaster for the sector.”