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Gloucestershire Business News

Phased immigration system will "ease burden on small businesses"

Business leaders have welcomed the Government's announcement on a phased immigration system which will be operating by March, 2019 post-Brexit.

The immigration Minister Brandon Lewis has promised extensive consultation with businesses who are concerned about the effect it could have on EU citizens working for UK firms.

Mike Cherry, Federation of Small Businesses national chairman, said: "Today's commitment to a phased introduction to a new immigration system will be welcomed by many small businesses as a sign of much needed stability.

"A transitional period, after we leave the EU, is a sensible approach and will avoid any sudden cliff edge where small firms will be locked out of accessing the labour and skills they need.

"A sufficient transitional period would provide smaller firms with enough time to prepare for any incoming immigration system.

"Skills and labour from the EU play an important role in many small businesses, with one in five small employers having EU workers. It is vital for the growth and survival of smaller firms that the new system is easy to navigate and affordable.

"The Migration Advisory Committee needs to engage with the small business community and FSB to address the concerns of small employers and the self-employed."

Picture: Pixabay

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