New study to look at Brexit impact on migrant workers
Mon, 03 Oct 2016 15:58:00 BST
Dr Katy Ferris, Leader of the Law Research Group, and Dr Andrew Jenkins, Principal Lecture in Events and Hospitality Management, are joining forces with Dr James Marson of Sheffield Hallam University. With supporting funds of £2,500 from a School Research fund, they will look at the impact of Brexit on migrant workers within the hospitality industry.
There are approximately 3 million EU nationals living in the UK who are likely to need a new immigration status in light of Brexit. They currently do not hold, nor need to hold, residence documents due to the free movement principles upon which the EU is based. Even though it is possible that the UK would establish free movement laws to allow such migrants to remain and work, whether these rights would then be extended to their families, as is currently the case, or to new migrants remains unknown. Following Brexit, EU workers will no longer have an automatic right to enter, live and work in the UK.
The funding will allow the researchers to look at the impact of Brexit on the hospitality sector in recruitment strategy. This includes the prospect of the loss of the existing pool of EU migrant workers following Brexit, as well as the contingency plans being devised to counteract this development. They will be looking at the likely impact on issues including wages, the effect on the workplace and organisational culture; for example, the impact on contracts and employment policies.
