EU labourers set to return in bid to build more houses

Brexit U-turn could see immigration rules eased to plug gap

- ADAM FORREST

Rishi Sunak’s government is understood to be planning to welcome in more foreign builders to tackle a chronic post-Brexit labour shortage in Britain's construction industry.

Despite the crackdown on illegal immigration routes, the government is said to be ready to add construction workers to a "shortage occupation list" in a bid to boost sluggish housebuilding. The building sector has suffered from an acute lack of workers since Brexit caused many European labourers to return to the EU.

The government's Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended that bricklayers, plasterers, roofers and other construction workers should be added to the shortage list, according to the Financial Times. Citing government insiders, the report said home secretary Suella Braverman is expected to accept the idea of allowing building firms to bring in more overseas workers.

The Independent understands the government is planning to reveal the results of a review on the "shortage occupation list" within weeks, and changes could be announced around the time of chancellor Jeremy Hunt's Budget next week. The shortage occupation list allows companies to get visas for staff being paid the lower threshold of £20,480 a year. The salary needed to obtain a "skilled worker" visa is £25,600.

The construction industry has been pushing hard for industry workers to be added to the shortage list. The Federation of Master Builders (FMB) has previously said it was a mistake to cut off labour from the EU after Brexit without addressing the UK's skills shortage. The FMB trade body said yesterday that the proposal to ease immigration rules would be a huge boost for the construction sector.