It comes as the Government continues to consult with businesses and employers on plans that will eventually lead to the implementation of a new ‘skills based’ immigration system, currently due to be phased in from 2021.
The £30,000 cap was originally outlined in the immigration white paper, which was released in December last year.
The paper said some employers had become reliant on lower skilled workers from the EU for certain jobs, and detailed plans to end the right for low skilled EU migrants to permanently live and work in the country.
At the time, trade body UKHospitality called the proposal fundamentally flawed, saying it would damage the hospitality sector, a sentiment that has been echoed by operators across the industry.
In 2017 it was estimated that the UK hospitality sector employed 700,000 EU workers, many of whom earned less than £30,000.
The MAC previously recommended that the Government should retain the £30,000 minimum salary requirement in the future immigration system.
However, the Home Secretary is now asking the independent body to further consider how future salary thresholds should be calculated, the levels of salary thresholds, whether there is a case for regional salary thresholds for different parts of the UK, and whether there should be exceptions to salary thresholds in certain circumstances.
He said: “It’s vital the new immigration system continues to attract talented people to grow our economy and support business while controlling our borders.
“These proposals are the biggest change to our immigration system in a generation, so it’s right that we consider all of the evidence before finalising them.”
The MAC is expected to report back by January 2020, when the Government will consider all the evidence before finalising its plans.
