Skills concern over Tory manifesto
14 Apr 2015
The Conservative Party launched its manifesto for the general election today and immediately drew criticism for an immigration policy that could create skills shortages for manufacturers.
In the manifesto, launched by Prime Minister David Cameron in Swindon, the Conservatives pledge to maintain the current cap on skilled economic migrants to 20,700 per year throughout the next parliament.
EEF chief executive Terry Scuoler said it was “disappointing that the mood music on immigration continues to concern businesses who require access to critical skills from overseas”.
While Scuoler welcomed the manifesto’s commitment to 3 million apprenticeships and the expansion of University Technical Colleges, he said investment in skills at home need to be “complemented by widening the talent pool to include skills from overseas”.
“The decision to maintain the cap on skilled non-EU workers and further reforms to the student visa route go against this and will cause great frustration amongst employers,” said Scuoler.
Many of the manifesto’s proposals of interest to business had already been announced by chancellor George Osborne in last month’s Budget and his autumn statement.
These measures included continued support of North Sea oil & gas and shale gas development, as well as investment in transport infrastructure that could help create a “northern powerhouse” of industry.
Meanwhile, the Green Party also launched its election manifesto today.
Among its proposals for businesses was the pledge to cut employers’ National Insurance contributions and a promise to increase the minimum wage to £10 per hour by 2020 – significantly higher than Labour’s pledge of £8 per hour by 2019 .
