Is the UK government putting a stop to foreign workers?
The UK government department in charge of implementing immigration policy, the Home Office, released a highly significant statement regarding modifications to the country’s immigration laws on March 14. It verified increases to the minimum salary requirement for individuals entering the United Kingdom via the skilled worker visa route. The cutoff was raised from £26,200 to £38,700, a 48% increase. Additionally, the minimum income criteria for partner/spouse or family visas went up from £18,600 to £29,000.
The adjustments to the skilled worker wage criteria go into effect on April 4, while the amendments to the family visa go into effect on April 11. They are a part of the government’s plans, initially unveiled in December of last year, to decrease immigration connected to family, education, and employment.
The Home Office acknowledges the need to protect and advance the welfare of children, therefore there may be some wiggle room for people who cannot afford the new £29,000 barrier for a family or partner visa.
“Those unable to meet the minimum income requirement may still be granted leave where there are exceptional circumstances which would render refusal of the application a breach of ECHR Article 8 or where there are insurmountable obstacles to family life with their partner continuing outside the UK,” the statement explains.
These adjustments have significant ramifications for Indian labourers seeking middle-level positions in Britain.
Additionally, the statement confirmed additional limitations. A list of jobs where a lack of labour is especially significant is called the shortage occupation list (SOL). Employers can pay migrants who apply for these occupations 80% of the current rate in order to entice foreign workers to fill these roles.
Numerous industries are included on the list, including social services, health, education, and construction. It is intended to make it simpler for employers to fill positions in areas of the UK where there is a labour shortage.
Nonetheless, there is concern that companies listed on the list have been taking advantage of the system to maintain low pay, undercutting British workers in favour of less expensive overseas labour.
It was also declared that the 20% salary cut for skilled workers employed in shortage occupations will terminate on March 14 in an effort to put an end to this practice. Early in April 2024, a new list known as the immigration salary list will take the place of the shortage occupation list.
It may appear to readers of these changes who are not in the UK that migrant workers are no longer welcome, but this is untrue.
The United Kingdom remains a business-friendly country that accepts individuals who possess the necessary abilities and are seeking skilled employment. Importantly, the income threshold increase does not apply to workers in the health and care sector, who make up over half of those on UK work visas.
Teachers and other individuals on national pay scales are not subject to this. Since middle-skilled jobs like butchers and chefs typically pay less than £30,000, the Migration Observatory, an independent agency that advises the British government on immigration policy, predicts that the changes will mostly affect these positions.
Because typical salaries in industries like IT, web design, and construction continue to exceed the new minimum wage, there are still opportunities for competent workers in these fields. More crucially, these industries are still facing a scarcity of labour.
Unexpectedly, 2.8 million adults in Britain between October and December 2023—ages 16 to 64—were unable to work due to chronic illness. Although this might not seem like much to individuals in India, it constitutes a sizeable portion of the working-age population in the UK.
In an attempt to get these individuals back to work, the UK government is attempting to implement measures. There are still a number of open positions, many of which qualify for work visas, until it does. The nation continues to be a land of opportunity for those with the necessary abilities and yet depends heavily on foreign labourers.
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