Foreign bricklayers’ visas eased to tackle shortages

MORE foreign builders will be allowed to work in Britain to ease shortages in the sector.

The Government’s immigration advisers are set to recommend loosening visa restrictions on bricklayers, roofers, carpenters, plasterers and general construction workers, it is understood.

The Home Office’s Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) is likely to suggest the trades are added to the ‘shortage occupation list’, making it easier for employers to recruit from overseas.

Home Secretary Suella Braverman is expected to accept the recommendation when the MAC publishes a report next week, likely to be tied in with Wednesday’s Budget. But Home Office sources said last night that a final decision has yet to be made.

A loosening of restrictions would help the construction industry meet the Conservatives’ target for ‘300,000 homes a year by the mid-2020s’. In 2019-20 there were 242,700 net additional dwellings, which fell to 21 ,490 in 2020-21.

The MAC is also taking evidence about further possible expansions of the shortage list, with the hospitality and retail sectors understood to want to be included.