UK business groups have criticised proposals to raise the salary threshold for immigrant workers to £36,700 after Brexit, warning the move would harm UK companies, reports City A.M. The proposals came in a report from think tank The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ). Edwin Morgan, interim director general at the Institute of Directors, said: “With unemployment at record lows, skills gaps are already holding businesses back. The threshold is repeatedly raised by employers as a concern, and raising the bar even higher would put another spanner in the works for firms looking to grow.” Steven Reilly-Hii, spokesman for London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that even the £30,000 threshold would limit companies’ access to talent. Donna Kinnair, Chief Executive and General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing, expressed concern over possible increased recruitment difficulties for nurses. Kinnair commented, “Such a high salary threshold would prevent nurses and other health and care professionals from other countries being recruited to work here.” Meanwhile, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said the proposals would damage London’s economy, as well as its openness and diversity. Income thresholds currently only apply to migrants from outside the EU, but are set to be extended to EU workers after Brexit.