TIGA urges government to protect EU games developers working in UK

Video games trade body TIGA has appealed to the UK government to protect the rights of EU game developers living and working in the UK following the country’s decision to leave the European Union.

The association asks the government to assure EU citizens currently working in the UK games industry that they are “not going to be asked to leave the UK” and to clarify the status of workers who enter the UK following last month’s referendum.

“The existing rights of EU workers already present and working in the UK should be protected so that they can continue to live and work in the UK with the confidence and assurance that they are not going to be asked to leave the UK at some stage,” said TIGA CEO Dr. Richard Wilson. “This is just, reasonable and practical.  The Government must also clarify the status of EU workers who enter the UK following the EU referendum and prior to the UK’s exit from the EU.

“Looking ahead, TIGA recognises that given the outcome of the referendum and also the position that the EU may take in any negotiations, it may be impossible to preserve free movement rights in their current form.  In that case, the UK will need an effective and efficient migration system.”

Wilson adds that the current immigration cap “that applies to skilled, sponsored workers will almost certainly need to be increased from 20,700 in order to accommodate the needs of UK employers in the future.

“Secondly, certain roles within the games sector where there is a specific skills shortage, for example, Engine Programmer, Game Analyst and Senior Game Designer, may need to be added to the Shortage Occupation List to ensure that employers can recruit the employees they need without undue delay.”

He also says that a new immigration system must “minimise some of the costs and complexity” of the current points-based system, and that industry “is not held back by any skills shortages”.

“It is decent, fair, and sensible from a business perspective, that EU workers already present and working in the UK are protected so that they can continue to live and work in the UK and contribute to our creative sector,” added Jason Kingsley, CEO of Rebellion and TIGA Chairman. ” UK employers in all sectors of the economy must redouble their commitment to skills, training and workforce development.”

TIGA’s appeal follows an earlier call to the government asking for assurance that UK games companies will “have access to sufficient finance, benefit from Video Games Tax Relief and R&D Tax Relief” and continue to be able to access “highly skilled people from outside of the UK”.

The UK voted to leave the European Union last month.

Source: tiga.org