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Work Permits UK, the Government department that jointly manages fast track visas with the Department for Education and Skills (DfES), will review existing policy towards recruitment agencies and contractors over the next couple of months.
Work Permits UK said: "The review will seek to establish whether the existing policy is still appropriate or whether changes need to be made to reflect current labour market trends. The outcome of the review will inform decisions taken on existing and future announcements by Ministers about Managed Migration initiatives."
The Association of Technology Staffing Companies (ATSCo) had been pressing for a decision over the work permit ban and welcomed the review.
Ann Swain, Chairman of ATSCo, said: "We welcome this review wholeheartedly and we shall be pressing hard for the option which would allow agencies to apply for work permits only for specified occupations or sectors."
However, the Professional Contractors Group expressed concerns that the Government should be considering a proposal to extend the scheme, when the current system was still under review.
| "It would be wrong to suggest there should be yet another avenue opened for issuing fast track visas when the current system is being examined for abuse" | | A PCG spokesman |
The PCG has strongly opposed the Fast Track Visa system on behalf of its 14,000 members who argue that there is no genuine skill shortage.
A PCG spokesman said: "We have presented clear evidence to the Government that their fast track visa scheme is out-of-date and open to abuse.
"We have a promise from the Government Minister, Lord Rooker, that he will examine our evidence and we are confident that this will result in at least some of the skills being struck off the so-called skill shortage list. In the current climate, it is difficult to justify any genuine skill shortage in IT.
"We have also received hundreds of examples from contractors who are unable to find work at the moment but who possess the skills that are allegedly in short supply. That information is with the Home Office now and more evidence is coming in daily.
"It would be wrong in principle and in practice to suggest that there should be yet another avenue opened for issuing fast track visas at a time when the current system is being examined for abuse and misuse."
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Richard Powell, Shout99
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