Remove the Immigration Skill Charge for jobs on the Shortage Occupation list

It can cost thousands of pounds to recruit an overseas worker to a job on the Shortage Occupation list, and a significant proportion of these costs are the Immigration Skill Charge. NHS or other employers have to pay £1,000 for the first 12 months of employment, and £500 for every further six months. We believe the rationale behind charging such a heavy cost for filling the most required staff is flawed, especially in this period of Covid 19 where there is a shortfall in healthcare workers.