Tighter new rules for skilled foreign workers
The 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."
colin Message left at 02:10 pm, Sun 11th May 2008
hi im a joiner from liverpool were if your local you cannot get on jobs because of migrant labour i am currently travelling to morecambe which 130 miles round trip . i for one think there is no
shortage of skilled labour just propaganda to recruit this cheap labour over here i for one challenge any labour official to come with me and look for these jobs that dont exist for british workers ,
i know loads of skilled workers out of work who cant get work because of these slave labour its all to late brown
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Steve Message left at 08:57 pm, Sat 10th May 2008
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?
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Fiona Message left at 08:28 am, Mon 12th May 2008
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.
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Stewart Message left at 09:23 am, Fri 9th May 2008
Far too little; far too late. Just go.
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Marc Message left at 09:45 pm, Thu 8th May 2008
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!
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Robert Message left at 11:15 pm, Thu 8th May 2008
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.
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