Changes to migration rules post-Brexit ‘threat to our tourist industry’
THE hospitality industry in North Wales faces a “serious threat” if the Government introduces measures to drive down the number of lower-skilled EU migrants after Brexit.
Britain will end the free movement of labour immediately after Brexit and introduce restrictions to deter all but highly-skilled EU workers, according to a leaked Home Office document.
It proposes lower-skilled EU migrants should only be offered residency for a maximum of two years.
In the seaside resort of Llandudno, 75% of the workforce are from the European Union.
The British Hospitality Association (BHA) have already warned the government that there will be a staffing shortfall if immigration from the European Union is too tightly controlled.
Geoff Lofthouse, the general manager of The Imperial Hotel, in Llandudno, said: “This is a major issue in our industry and what the government classes as low skilled is, to us, the complete opposite.
“To us housekeepers, chefs and waiters are all skilled professions.
“A lot of our staff are from Eastern Europe, and many of them have worked here for the past decade, have settled in the area and bought houses and their kids go to local schools.
“They contribute a huge amount to the local economy, and pay their taxes and do all the right things.
“If this two year residency thing is introduced, then it will create a transient workforce, which is not what we are looking for.”
Mr Lofthouse added: “We already have a terrific shortage of chefs and housekeepers.
“I’d love to be able to employ local people who know and love the area, but it just isn’t possible.
“Even the likes of Portmeirion, where, in the past, only Welsh speakers were employed, have had to change and now employ Eastern European staff, it’s just the way things are.“
Jim Jones, boss of North Wales Tourism, said: “We already have a skills shortage in the hospitality sector across North Wales.
“So, naturally, our members will be concerned about any impact new immigration policies will have.
“However, I think the perception that low skill workers are the lifeblood of the tourism and hospitality sector is exactly what is wrong with the industry’s image.
“We need to recognise that, in order for businesses to compete in destinations like Llandudno, they need to be recruiting people already skilled or willing to be trained, which also includes people skills in all aspects of the sector.”
Guest house owner Berin Jones, who is chairman of the Llandudno Hospitality Association, said: “We are already seeing some workers from EU going back home because of Brexit, when we already have a shortage of workers.
“We need to change the image of the industry so that youngsters can see there are exciting opportunities for them on their own doorsteps.”