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Foreign workers hoping to fill skilled vacancies in Britain's labour market will have to meet tough new rules, under a scheme announced by the government yesterday. Welcomed by contracting experts, the schemes – Tier 2 and Tier 5- effectively sweep aside about 30 different routes into the UK, including the old work permit system. Published by the Home Office, the two schemes seek to ensure that only non-EU temporary workers with the skills the UK needs can gain entry into the country. As a result, low skilled workers from outside the EU will be barred from the UK, as part of the new points-based system, which is based largely on Australia’s immigration rules. Under the UK policy, domestic companies will have to prove they cannot fill skilled posts with a resident and must show that they advertised the vacancy in the UK. Moreover, would-be migrants from abroad will need a job offer before they even apply for a visa, unless the job is on the shortage occupation list. Significantly for the technology sector, when Tier 2 was first announced two years ago, workers on intra-company transfers were automatically given entry to the UK. Under today’s proposals, an ICT applicant will only earn 30 of the 70 points needed to gain entry, with the remaining points gained through their qualifications, and by their earnings being at UK market rates. Welcoming the policy change, the PCG said intra-company transfers have been regularly used to “transfer work to offshore locations at the expense of UK workers.” “More study of the impact of offshoring on the UK’s skills base is needed,” said John Brazier, managing director of the group, which represents freelance contractors, mostly in the IT sector. “If necessary, the points weighting for ICTs should be tightened further, so that work that can be done in the UK is not needlessly offshored.” He reminded that under the proposals, jobs must either be in a shortage occupation, or be advertised in the UK via a jobs board or other “approved” channels. The PCG wants the IT industry to be kept off the shortage list, particular, the group said, as demand for some financial IT roles has now fallen as a result of the global economic turmoil. Yesterday, the government said that employers which break the new rules, such as by not advertising their vacancies in the UK, are already facing much “tougher sanctions.” Immigration minister Liam Byrne added: “Our new points system means that British job-seekers 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.” May 7, 2008 Email this article Printer friendly page Previous Page
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