![\"\"](\"http:\/\/irishexaminerusa.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/01\/2.20011564.jpg\")
Northern Ireland should not have a separate salary threshold for migrants, a report by experts has said.<\/p>\nNorthern Ireland should not have a separate salary threshold for migrants, a report by experts has said.<\/p>\n
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) recommended the Government should cut the pay requirement for skilled workers from \u00a330,000 (\u20ac35,435) to \u00a325,600 (\u20ac30,238)for those coming to the UK with a job offer.<\/p>\n
Business groups in Northern Ireland have argued the region should have a lower limit than the rest of the UK.<\/p>\n
The report said: \u201cThe MAC\u2019s view is that while there are arguments both for and against geographical variation in thresholds, on balance we recommend a single salary threshold across the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lower salary threshold for some parts of the UK risks labeling some parts of the UK as \u2018low wage\u2019, reinforcing geographical inequalities.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have previously supported a separate pilot to deal with the particular problems faced by remote areas and we continue to recommend this idea.\u201d<\/p>\n
Areas such as the tourism industry in Northern Ireland could be particularly affected by the minimum wage requirement after Brexit since it employs a lot of workers from the EU.<\/p>\n
The MAC report added: \u201cThe situation of Northern Ireland is unique as the only part of the UK with a land border with the EU and a labor market more distinct from the rest of the UK.<\/p>\n
\u201cSpecial consideration could be given to Northern Ireland, especially if it comes to have a different relationship with the EU compared to the rest of the UK.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colin Neill, chief executive of Hospitality Ulster, said there seemed to be a failure to take into consideration Northern Ireland\u2019s unique set of circumstances.<\/p>\n
\u201cAlthough we do welcome the reduction in the salary threshold, it remains too high, not Northern Ireland-specific, with the skills bar set to a height that is prohibitive for a region which is expected to have 30,000 vacancies in the hospitality sector by 2024,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cSoft skills are a vital element of the success of the Northern Ireland hospitality and tourism offer and our fear is that they have largely been ignored in this context.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe call on the Advisory Committee to give urgent reconsideration due to our distinctive economic position.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the hospitality sector in Northern Ireland was hugely reliant on workers from overseas and warned he harbored grave concerns about what the future may bring.<\/p>\n
He said: \u201cThere is real danger of negative impacts on the sustainability of a sector of the economy which has significant growth potential.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ann McGregor, chief executive of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, said she was disappointed.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe recommendations made by local businesses and business groups throughout two years of consultation have been ignored,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis risks limiting access to skills for many of our members across a wide range of sectors.\u201d<\/p>\n