ATC lobbies for future immigration scheme

The Association of Translation Companies and its members are taking part in the MAC’s Call for Evidence to secure the future of translators and interpreters in the UK.

The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has opened a consultation on salary thresholds in a potential future immigration scheme. The MAC has been asked to determine the best mechanism for calculating the salary thresholds and the rates at which they should be set.

The MAC has also been asked to look into an Australian-style points-based system and how this might work in the UK.

The ATC campaigns for minimum salaries for translators and interpreters employed by UK companies to be fixed at current SOC classification levels, instead of a proposed blanket of £30,000.

This campaign is underpinned by the ATC’s call on the Government to safeguard British industry’s and the UK public sector’s access to the linguistic skills of translators and interpreters, and to ensure that the route to these skilled roles remains accessible post-Brexit.

By its very nature, the language services industry needs mother tongue speakers of a wide range of different languages to provide the highest quality translation and interpreting services, with linguists recruited from outside the UK.

Translators and interpreters are in a completely unique position within the UK labour market and require separate recognition and consideration from all other professions.

For UK language service companies

Take part in the MAC’s Call for Evidence here if your company employs translators or interpreters.

Download Call for Evidence template with ATC position statements pre-filled in.

Read more about the MAC’s Call for Evidence here.