Home Office appointment angers industry groups.
The government stoked controversy this week by appointing an Indian
IT trade body to a panel set up to advise officials on work permit
policy for the IT sector, despite opposition from many of the
panel's existing members.
The India Business Group, which is supported by the Indian High
Commission, will represent large Indian software suppliers on the
IT Sector Skills Panel. This plays an influential role in deciding
what types of IT jobs qualify for work permits.
The move has come under fire from IT bodies on the panel, whose
members include the British Computer Society, the Association of
Technology Staffing Companies and trade union Amicus. They have
accused government officials of disregarding their concerns about
the appointment.
The issue of work permits has hit the headlines over recent months,
following allegations from contractors that the government is
issuing a large number of work permits to overseas IT staff at a
time of record unemployment, and that some Indian employers are
exploiting loopholes in the work permit system.
But Work Permits UK, the Home Office agency responsible for work
permits, said the appointment will bring a balance to the panel by
giving companies that use work permits a stronger voice in its
decision-making.
Panel members said they were concerned that the appointment of the
IBG would damage the work of the panel by opening the floodgates to
other overseas bodies. Many also expressed concerns over the
apparent conflict of interest in having Indian firms on a group
that should represent the economic interests of the UK.
Of the nine industry members on the panel, six who were contacted
by Computer Weekly last week said they had told the government
that, while they would be happy to hear the IBG's views, it would
be inappropriate the group to be given full membership of the
panel. Two members were unavailable for comment.
Matthew Dixon who represents the BCS on the panel, said, "The
argument from Work Permits UK has some merit, but I am not sure it
overrides the basic consideration of needing a UK perspective on
policy for immigration."
"We were most surprised by the decision, given the general
opposition to the inclusion of the IBG by many of the current panel
members representing a wide range of interests," said Amicus
national organiser Peter Skyte.
The appointment of the IBG to the sector skills panel coincides
with lobbying from Indian IT firms. A delegation from the Indian
software and services association met with DTI and Home Office
officials earlier this month to discuss government plans to review
the work permit system and the pressure to impose tighter
regulations on work permits. The IBG has recently held informal
meetings with officials from Work Permits UK and the DTI.
The Home Office said the IBG would make a valuable contribution to
the IT Sector Skills Panel. "The IBG represents some major UK
employers. We are looking to make sure users of work permits are
represented on the panel. The economic interests of the UK are a
key interest of Work Permits UK, but if we are to do our job we
need employer representation and the IBG fulfills that role."
The IBG was unavailable for comment.
Panel responses
- "I would be more than happy for the CBI to be on the panel. The
other organisations on the panel are driven by the motivation of
supporting the long-term prospects of the UK. You can't say that
about the India Business Group"
Gurdial Rai, Professional Contractors
Group
- "It seems to me really that we have to advise government on
immigration policy and that needs to be something we discuss from a
UK perspective. There are other activities that are trying to level
playing fields with respect to the labour market
internationally"
Matthew Dixon, British Computer
Society
- "We are not opposed to having a strong employer input to the
panel but it should be through organisations representing industry
sectors in the UK. By definition the India Business Group can only
represent the interests of Indian companies and it is difficult to
see how the IBG can fit into the framework of the skills
panel"
Peter Skyte, Amicus - While the panel should hear the views of the India Business
Group, that did not necessarily mean that the group should become a
full member. "There are a lot of organisations who may deserve to
be part of the panel. You would like a balance to be struck between
ensuring that the panel is represented to the industry and the
issues which surround it and making sure it is able to carry out
its function you can't make the panel ineffective"
Nick Kalisperas, Intellect