UK to institute points system for foreign workers

UK’s home secretary Priti Patel has unveiled a new points-based immigration system. The government said the reform aims to end a reliance on “cheap, low-skilled labour” coming to the UK.

Under the so-called “Australian-style” system, applicants will receive points based on skills, qualifications, salaries, English speaking ability and professions. Around 70% of the EU’s current workforce is expected to fail to meet its criteria.

The system will implement recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee to lower the salary threshold to £25,600 from the existing £30,000 minimum limit. The plan also has a scheme which will grant visas to “highly-skilled” researchers to come to the UK without a job offer.

“We’re ending free movement, taking back control of our borders and delivering on the people’s priorities by introducing a new UK points-based immigration system, which will bring overall migration numbers down”, Patel said, and added: “We will attract the brightest and the best from around the globe, boosting the economy and our communities, and unleash this country’s full potential”.

The system was criticized by Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott: “If families are split up because spouses and children are denied entry, this will be terrible for them and will deter many of the workers we need.  If they are all short-term visas only the most desperate workers will come, and will have the effect of creating a two-tier workforce”.

“The Conservative Government’s immigration proposals are based on xenophobia, not the social and economic needs of our country. Ten months is nowhere near enough time for either employers or the Home Office to get ready for these new rules, creating chaos and confusion”, said the Liberal Democrats’ home affairs spokesperson Christine Jardine.

The new system is set to come into force in January 2021.