Latest from Campaign Engine Room
(find out more)

Latest Tweets

Labour on Facebook

Tighter new rules for skilled foreign workers


Low unemploymentThe Labour Government has announced strict new criteria for foreign workers who are hoping to fill skilled vacancies in Britain.

To qualify, skilled foreign nationals will have to earn a certain number of points before being allowed to work in Britain. These points are awarded only if a person can prove they will be doing skilled work, speak a good standard of English, and are earning more than £24,000, or have a decent qualification. Employers will need a licence from the UK Border Agency to offer jobs to skilled workers.

British-based companies will have to prove they cannot fill skilled posts with a resident worker and must show that the job vacancy has been advertised in the UK. Would-be migrants will need a job offer before they even apply for a visa, unless the job is on the shortage occupation list.

Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:

"Our new points system means that British jobseekers get the first crack of the whip and that only the skilled migrants we actually need will be able to come.

"By moving points up or down, we can make sure the numbers we allow in to the UK are in line with the needs of business and the country as a whole.

"When we set the points pass mark, we will listen to independent advice - the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on the needs of the economy, and the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) on the effect of migration on society."
12 Comments · Show / Hide
Leave a comment »  
Message posted by Jonathan at 2008-05-13 01:14:56
Why don't we let them all in, let them find useful jobs contributing to the economy then change the rules and send them all home again - Oh, hang on, that would be what we're doing replacing the HSMP with this.

I used to work for the Home Office and they were planning this long before you announced it, so I think you're letting the HO tell you what to do rather than the other way round, shades of Yes Minister and why it's wrong to blame you for this - you've just 'gone native' and your boss is only interested in spin. To think we thought Blair was bad.

As long as we have vacancies we should let anybody with a valid return ticket come and work here.
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Steve at 2008-05-10 20:57:27
The apogee of Government policy designed to please the Daily Mail. I just cannot get my head round how a progressive Government can introduce an immigration policy that says to the Third World "Thanks for training up nurses, engineers and IT specialists. We'll take them off your hands for you - but you can keep your poor folk to yourselves"

Yes, they are likely to send some money back home - but surely to goodness a Labour Government can see that you don't just needs bank transfers to help build civil society in developing countries.

So: either have no immigration or have very low barriers. Either way we play fair with the Third World.

I appreciate this is a minority position, but surely Globalisation means more than the breaking down of borders for capital flows, it also means labour flows too - otherwise we're kidding ourselves and all we're doing is exporting increasing labour inequality to the world's poorest people.

Or is that OK and we are now setting aside the international dimension of Socialism?
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Benn at 2008-05-12 20:39:58
Britain is only a small place, it is mathmatically impossible for it to embrace everyone,

By allowing the already skilled from 3rd world countries to come here, we can ensure that Britain grows. And therefore is able to use this renumeration in order to support the 3rd world nations? Since if the skilled workers stay where they are money that is avaiable will be of little use?
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Fiona at 2008-05-12 08:28:03
I agree with what Steve says. I feel uncomfortable with the concept of discriminating against poor foreign workers, whilst letting their richer, more privileged, more educated citizens in. The key is to legislate to prevent employers using foreign workers to undercut wages.
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Stewart at 2008-05-09 09:23:19
Far too little; far too late. Just go.
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by 2Little2Late at 2008-05-12 13:59:01
Quite frankly you could cut income tax to 1p in th £ now - it doesn't matter. You're finished. Gone. You are an ex-party.

Two years more to suffer under your incompetence then an election night party to remember.

Adios losers.
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Benn at 2008-05-12 20:42:03
Very constructive? Let me guess your a Tory? Since you had no policy to embrace us with to solve the problem? I can't wait for the fight!!!
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Marc at 2008-05-08 21:45:23
This doesn't and NEVER will go far enough - you say you are 'listening' - on immigration, this is a poor excuse for showing you're doing something rather han real concern. You should be stopping eastern European immigration (Yes, you call it freedom of movement,within the EU but it's more than that). Get a grip, start doing something other than watered down beer, and GET RID OF GORDON BROWN IF YOU WANT TO RETAIN POWER!
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Selma at 2008-05-14 11:27:40
Marc I just can't agree with you. Gordon Brown is a good man who has fundametally changed Britain for the better over the last 11 years. All of this trouble at the moment centres around the fact that he's not the showman that Tony Blair was. So what? It's time the media grew up and realised that we want someone with real intelligence running this country, not someone who knows how to play to the cameras like David Cameron.
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Robert at 2008-05-08 23:15:11
I agree with Marc, in a country of over 60 million I can't see need for immigration. If we are unable to educate the work force of the UK to supply industry with the skilled people they require, then its time to call it a day. Also this points system as I understand it only applies to non EU countries, which means that low or non skilled workers from the EU will still have the right of entry, which will supply some industries with cheap labour. I find that quite ironic coming from a political party formed a hundred years ago to end poverty in this country and is actually encouraging it.

Cheap labour = low pay = low pension = poverty in old, well done labour!

But let’s not forget, it does mean more low pay workers they can TAX.
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Benn at 2008-05-12 20:50:39
We are educating as many that want to be educated? i am afraid though there is a culture of benefit bludgers who will always avoid work and cause this problem? Its welfare that needs looking at not immigration? Because if they made them work then there would be less work for foreigners and therefore a reduction in immigration?
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive

Message posted by Jonathan at 2008-05-13 01:07:12
there's a problem with making people work - would you want a service you need/want provided by someone made to do it? You're in a food shop - how do you know the food is well prepared if they 'have' to be there, how do you know your brakes will work if the mechanic has to work, etc. In anycase, I'd prefer to be served by volunteers rather than pressed men.
Options: Reply to this message | Report this message as offensive