Britain's New Immigration System

[Heracles 417]

Immigrants will find it harder to secure work in Britain with the UK government poised to adopt new measures slashing the number of jobs open to migrants.

The Migration Advisory Committee, an independent group of economists, today presented the Home Office with a strict new list of "shortage occupations" expected to be adopted by the government in November.

The list cuts the number of jobs deemed to have a shortage of people to fill them and therefore available to workers from outside the European Union (EU) by 30 per cent.

Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said once finalised next month, the list would form part of the British government's points-based system for skilled migrants.

"Our new Australian-style points system is flexible to meet the needs of British business while ensuring that only those we want and no more can come here to work," Byrne said.

"Those that do come will need to work hard, play by the rules and speak English."

Among occupations on the shortage list are specialist nurses, chemical and civil engineers, quantity surveyors, maths and English teachers, ship and hovercraft officers, veterinary surgeons, sheep shearers, jockeys and horse trainers.

Some professions, such as construction, catering and IT, were deemed to have a shortage but the committee did not regard it as "sensible" to include them on the list, as it did not want to deter firms from training British workers to fill vacancies.

Chef and careworker positions would qualify for the list, but only if they paid enough.

For example, Indian restaurants would be allowed to recruit chefs from outside the EU, provided they paid a minimum of STG8.10 ($A17.65) an hour.

The guidelines have sparked concern among care workers, many of whom believe the STG8.80 ($A19.17) an hour minimum salary needed for migrants from outside the EU to qualify is too high.

National Care Association board member Many Thorn told the BBC: "It is so far above what the medium pay levels are within care homes for senior care workers, it is just not going to be achievable."

Inter-company transfers will be exempt and firms will still be able to recruit for jobs not on the list if there are no suitable applicants when the the position is advertised in the EU.

AAP

[akdiver 3]

Among occupations on the shortage list are ...jockeys...

Yes, yes!!! We must solve the great jockey shortage problem at all costs!!!!!

On a related note - I wonder if I could get a job in the U.K. as an English teacher (:

[Peikko 1,575]

Why would you want to? Of course, you are in Alaska so it might be a step up

[Heracles 417]

Unlike the US, where immigration is a well oiled machine, the UK will have to leave pressing issues such as text messaging rates for another time.

Unfortunately for now they are focusing on silly ####### like improving and modernizing their immigration policy.

Edited September 10, 2008 by Aficionado

[akdiver 3]

Why would you want to?

Good point.

[HAL 9000 96]

Unlike the US, where immigration is a well oiled machine, the UK will have to leave pressing issues such as text messaging rates for another time.

Unfortunately for now they are focusing on silly ####### like improving and modernizing their immigration policy.

Well they did let you in.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

This is probably a mite overdue - given that Britain was basically the laughing stock of Europe with regard to its immigration policy - that's been an embarrassment to successive governments.

One of the reasons the Tories were overthrown in '97, that and their caterwauling over Europe.