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Government announces crackdown on migrant labour

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Summary

The UK Home Secretary has announced a plan to reduce annual net migration by 300,000, which includes increasing the earning threshold by almost 50%, replacing the Shortage Occupation List with a new Immigration Salary List, and scrapping the 20% going rate salary discount for shortage occupations. The plan also includes a review of the graduate visa route, and the removal of the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate research courses. Home Secretary James Cleverly commented that the plan will reduce net migration and protect British workers from being undercut. Charlotte Wills from Fragomen raised concerns that the increases to salary thresholds and fees may be too extreme.

Q&As

What measures is the UK government implementing to reduce net migration?
The UK government is implementing measures to increase the earning threshold for overseas workers and replace the Shortage Occupation List with a new Immigration Salary List in order to reduce annual net migration by 300,000.

How much is the proposed increase to the overseas worker salary threshold?
The proposed increase to the overseas worker salary threshold is almost 50%, from its current level of £26,200 to £38,700.

What will the new Immigration Salary List include?
The new Immigration Salary List will include skilled workers such as bricklayers and chartered surveyors.

What changes will be made to the student visa system?
The changes to the student visa system will include removing the right for international students to bring dependants unless they are on postgraduate research courses and removing the ability for international students to switch onto work routes before their studies are completed.

What are the concerns raised about the new measures?
The concerns raised about the new measures include that the 47.7% increase of the salary threshold for sponsored workers is too high and risks undoing the good work so far done by the immigration system, and that the government is prioritising politics over economics.

AI Comments

👍 The new measures announced by Home Secretary James Cleverly are a great step towards reducing annual net migration in the UK. It is encouraging to see the government taking decisive action to halt the drastic rise in work visa routes and crack down on those taking advantage of UK hospitality.

👎 These new measures to reduce annual net migration may be detrimental to those sectors that rely on migrant workers to fill labour shortages and could undo the good work done by the immigration system so far. The 47.7% increase of the salary threshold for sponsored workers is excessive and could put an unnecessary strain on businesses.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the government's new measures to reduce net migration in the UK by 300,000. They're increasing the starting salary for overseas workers from £26,200 to £38,700 and replacing the Shortage Occupation List with a new Immigration Salary List.

Friend: Wow, that's a huge change. What do you think the implications of this policy will be?

Me: Well, it could lead to fewer jobs available for overseas workers, as employers will have to pay more for them. It could also reduce the amount of money that businesses receive from migrant workers, since they won't be able to pay them lower wages. Additionally, the changes could lead to an increase in wages for UK workers, as businesses will have to compete for local workers rather than relying on migrant workers. Finally, it could also lead to an increase in the cost of goods and services, since businesses will have to pay more for the same amount of work.

Action items

Research the new measures announced by the Home Secretary and the Migration Advisory Committee to understand the implications for migrant workers and employers.
Reach out to local organisations and businesses to understand how the new measures will affect their operations.
Consider ways to support migrant workers and employers in adapting to the new measures, such as providing training and resources.

Technical terms

Net Migration: The difference between the number of people entering a country and the number of people leaving a country.
Shortage Occupation List: A list of occupations that are in short supply in the UK and are therefore eligible for a visa.
Immigration Salary List: A list of occupations that are eligible for a visa based on the salary they can earn.
Graduate Visas: Visas that allow international students to stay in the UK after they have completed their studies.
Going Rate Salary Discount: A discount on the salary of a shortage occupation.
Migration Advisory Committee: An independent body that advises the government on migration policy.