Analysis: As the door slams shut on migrants, does retail face a people crisis?

UK border Heathrow

After the government unveiled its post-Brexit, points-based immigration system yesterday, Retail Week finds that many trade bodies and retailers have been left blindsided and scrambling to understand the wider implications.

This week, recently appointed home secretary Priti Patel could be found doing the rounds with major television and radio networks explaining the government’s new points-based immigration system.

The system, designed to curb what the government terms ‘low-skilled workers’ from the EU coming to the UK after Britain leaves the union on January 1, 2021, sets out strict criteria, which prospective employees will need to meet.

Effectively, so-called ‘low-skilled’ workers will no longer have a route to employment in the UK, whereas more skilled workers – those with an A level-equivalent qualification – will be able to qualify for working visas, provided they can reach a total of 70 points by meeting a number of weighted criteria.

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