EDM: Skilled Worker Visa eligibility rules and transport workers

Skilled Worker Visa eligibility rules and transport workers

Tabled by Margaret Mullane (Labour) 22 signatures

The motion

That this House notes that, as a result of changes introduced by the Government via secondary legislation on 1 July 2025, as of 22 July 2025 the list of occupations eligible for the Skilled Worker Visa was significantly narrowed, with around 180 occupations removed from the list; further notes that the impact of these changes is that employers are no longer able to sponsor workers for the Skilled Worker Visa in any occupations that are no longer eligible, even those already employed with other visas, such as graduate visas; recognises that the occupations removed from the eligible list include Rail Travel Assistant and that some rail workers employed at Transport for London and on the railway are no longer able to be sponsored for a Skilled Worker Visa so will therefore be required to leave the UK when their current visa expires; is concerned at the pace with which these changes were implemented, with a lack of any provision for transitional arrangements for workers already employed in the UK; further recognises that, while the Government has instructed the Migration and Advisory Committee to undertake a review of occupations for the Temporary Shortage List, this is not expected to be completed for a year; and calls on the Government to pause these changes to visa eligibility rules until a thorough review and consultation, including with trade unions, of the potential impacts on workforce staffing, shortages and skills has been undertaken.

Signatories (22)