Latest news with #ImmigrationSalaryList
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
UK Jobs: Construction industry in UK is still able to hire foreign workers under visa clampdown, ETHRWorld
Advt Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Download ETHRWorld App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App Construction workers from abroad will still be able to migrate to the UK despite tighter visa restrictions announced by the government, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, as Labour attempts to slash migration without damaging critical sectors of the to Parliament's Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Cooper said officials had already identified a series of occupations that would not appear on the new Temporary Shortage List . That list will allow employers to bring workers into the country who would not otherwise be eligible, because the job is classed as below degree the construction industry, and other sectors needed by the government to support its economic growth ambitions, will still appear on the list. That will come as a relief to firms in the UK who worried that restricting the migrant workforce would hamper their business.'Construction will continue to be on the Temporary Shortage List,' Cooper told lawmakers, adding that the industry would also have to develop a workforce strategy showing how it would train and recruit more British workers over time. Roles 'will only be able to go on the Temporary Shortage List if they are effectively in critical areas, for example those that are critical to the industrial strategy or something like construction.'Cooper's reassurance to the construction industry comes just weeks after the government unveiled its immigration white paper, which set out a series of changes to the UK's immigration system. Most employers will now only be able to recruit from abroad for roles which are degree level or above, and workers will have to stay in the country for 10 years, rather than five, before they can apply for settled restrictions were an attempt by Labour to stave off the anti-migrant Reform UK party, which has soared in popularity over the last year and won a slew of council seats in local elections last the UK has an Immigration Salary List which allows employers to recruit from abroad for over 1,300 roles where there is currently deemed to be a shortage. Being on that list means employers can recruit overseas nationals into those roles on a salary up to 20% below the general said that system was too lax, and had contributed to the unprecedented number of migrants coming to the UK while providing no incentive for businesses to hire or train out-of-work white paper abolishes the current system to replace it with the Temporary Shortage List. Cooper said the government will cut up to 180 occupations from the current Immigration Salary List — but that would still leave more than 1,000 on it.'We've already identified, as part of the immigration white paper, a series of occupations that will be taken off what used to be the immigration salary list,' Cooper said. 'The number of occupations on the temporary shortage list will be significantly lower than the number of occupations currently on the immigration salary list.'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
A UK industry is still able to hire foreign workers under visa clampdown
Construction workers from abroad will still be able to migrate to the UK despite tighter visa restrictions announced by the government, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said, as Labour attempts to slash migration without damaging critical sectors of the economy. Speaking to Parliament's Home Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Cooper said officials had already identified a series of occupations that would not appear on the new Temporary Shortage List . That list will allow employers to bring workers into the country who would not otherwise be eligible, because the job is classed as below degree level. ALSO READ: Rising costs and visa hurdles push international students beyond the US,UK by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Motivos para escolher um Sofá de Couro [Descubra] Fiori Sofás Saiba Mais Undo But the construction industry, and other sectors needed by the government to support its economic growth ambitions, will still appear on the list. That will come as a relief to firms in the UK who worried that restricting the migrant workforce would hamper their business. (Join our ETNRI WhatsApp channel for all the latest updates) 'Construction will continue to be on the Temporary Shortage List,' Cooper told lawmakers, adding that the industry would also have to develop a workforce strategy showing how it would train and recruit more British workers over time. Roles 'will only be able to go on the Temporary Shortage List if they are effectively in critical areas, for example those that are critical to the industrial strategy or something like construction.' Live Events ALSO READ: Oxford University opens applications for Rhodes Scholarship Cooper's reassurance to the construction industry comes just weeks after the government unveiled its immigration white paper, which set out a series of changes to the UK's immigration system. Most employers will now only be able to recruit from abroad for roles which are degree level or above, and workers will have to stay in the country for 10 years, rather than five, before they can apply for settled status. Those restrictions were an attempt by Labour to stave off the anti-migrant Reform UK party, which has soared in popularity over the last year and won a slew of council seats in local elections last month. ALSO READ: UK plans stricter rules for migrants seeking permanent residency Currently, the UK has an Immigration Salary List which allows employers to recruit from abroad for over 1,300 roles where there is currently deemed to be a shortage. Being on that list means employers can recruit overseas nationals into those roles on a salary up to 20% below the general threshold. Cooper said that system was too lax, and had contributed to the unprecedented number of migrants coming to the UK while providing no incentive for businesses to hire or train out-of-work Britons. The white paper abolishes the current system to replace it with the Temporary Shortage List. Cooper said the government will cut up to 180 occupations from the current Immigration Salary List — but that would still leave more than 1,000 on it. 'We've already identified, as part of the immigration white paper, a series of occupations that will be taken off what used to be the immigration salary list,' Cooper said. 'The number of occupations on the temporary shortage list will be significantly lower than the number of occupations currently on the immigration salary list.'
Scotsman
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Scotsman
Starmer becomes a Farage tribute act on immigration
While it was Sir Keir Starmer who stood at the Downing Street lectern to talk about immigration, the speech could have been delivered by Nigel Farage. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The Labour leader echoed the right‑wing slogans he once decried. He promised to 'take back control of our borders' and end what he called a 'one‑nation experiment in open borders conducted on a country that voted for control'. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer holds a press conference on immigration at Downing Street (Picture: Ian Vogler -) Instead of challenging Farage, Starmer appears determined to copy him. Recent political history teaches a brutal lesson: when mainstream parties validate the talking points of hard‑right insurgents, they do not deflate them, they clear the runway for them. Starmer may succeed only in making Farage seem like the authentic article while Labour looks like a pale copy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The practical damage begins immediately. Starmer's proposals will limit the care‑worker visa route, abolish the Immigration Salary List and raise skills and language thresholds. Scotland's care providers, already battling vacancies, call international recruitment 'a lifeline' and warn that removing it is 'cruel' and 'a crushing blow to an already‑fragile sector.' Unison reminds us the NHS 'would have collapsed long ago' without overseas staff. In some respects these moves are even more hardline than Farage. His immigration spokesperson Anne Widdecombe said, 'we never signed up to zero immigration,' and that essential NHS and care workers should be considered "exceptions" to immigration policy, providing the government makes "serious efforts' to up-skill British workers in the meantime. Starmer says employers are 'addicted to importing cheap labour rather than investing in our young people.' That caricature collapses when confronted with Scotland's demographics. Last year natural change would have cut our population by 14,500; only inward migration kept the total in positive territory. Remote rural communities still lose residents, skilled trades face chronic shortages and half of all projected employment growth this decade is in health and social care. The Scottish Government's Migration – Meeting Scotland's Needs strategy points out that maintaining even modest economic growth requires net migration of around 25,000 a year—levels that Westminster's new cap will make impossible. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Business groups are blunt: hospitals, hospitality and the burgeoning renewables supply‑chain cannot be staffed from a working‑age population that is already shrinking. Yet Labour has just volunteered to cut the flow further than the Conservatives dared, while blocking SNP proposals for a bespoke Scottish visa route tailored to our economy. That is the definition of allowing Westminster politics to throttle Scotland's future. The irony is painful. Starmer entered politics citing moral duty and internationalism. Today he touts ten‑year waits for settlement, English tests for dependants and a policy to let migration 'fall' as far as required. In chasing voters who already prefer the original, Labour risks normalising the worldview of Faragists and if the polls hold, laying a red carpet from the Commons backbenches to Downing Street's front door. Scotland sees the danger clearly. Polling shows tolerance for immigration because people grasp the simple arithmetic of an ageing nation: without new arrivals our workforce and our tax base wither. Starmer's speech ignored both Scotland and reality. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is clear that governments of whatever stripes are not serving Scotland. It is time we extricate ourselves from the irreversible rightward-shift of the UK – by seizing the opportunities of internationalism, global justice, and economic opportunity as an independent nation in the EU. Angus Robertson MSP, Constitution, External Affairs and Culture Secretary
Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
UK PM Keir Starmer tightens immigration: higher job bar, shorter student stay, tougher deportation in new visa reset; here's what we know
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a wide-ranging reform of the immigration system with a new white paper titled Restoring Control over the Immigration System. The 82-page document signals a clear departure from previous approaches, as Starmer's Labour government seeks to address rising migration and public pressure following its landslide win last July. The Prime Minister said net migration had spiralled out of control under past policies, increasing from 224,000 in 2019 to 906,000 in 2023 almost matching the population of Birmingham. He stated the reforms are designed to reduce migration, end dependence on cheap foreign labour, and build a workforce through British investment. 'Migration will fall': Ending cheap labour, raising skill bar One of the key reforms is the decision to raise the skilled worker threshold to a degree-level qualification (RQF 6). The existing Immigration Salary List, which allowed lower wages in select sectors, will be scrapped. Only occupations facing long-term shortages with official workforce strategies will now qualify under the points-based system. A new Labour Market Evidence Group will be established to assess workforce demands. The government has also announced a halt on new international recruitment for adult social care roles. Those already working in the UK under existing visas can extend them until 2028 under a transition period. Starmer emphasised that the reforms aim to shift focus from short-term foreign hiring to long-term training and employment of local workers. Tighter rules for students, families, and deportations The new framework brings significant changes for international students. The post-study visa duration will be reduced from two years to 18 months. Educational institutions sponsoring overseas students will now face strict compliance checks and could have recruitment limits. Family and private life immigration rules will also be streamlined. A major change is in deportation policy. Under the new rules, even those convicted of minor offences, not just prison sentences can face deportation. The reforms also promise stricter consequences for crimes like violence against women and girls. Crackdown on abuse, illegal entry, and longer citizenship process To prevent abuse of the system, the UK government plans to impose sanctions and visa restrictions on countries that repeatedly misuse the UK's immigration pathways. Asylum rules will be tightened, especially for those seeking refuge after arriving in the UK, without visible changes in their home countries. Sponsors of migrant workers and students who violate rules will face higher fines. The reforms also propose that the path to citizenship will now take 10 years double the current duration. A points-based citizenship model is under development, with more details expected later this year. Focus remains on global talent in key sectors While the overall approach is tighter, the UK government is still encouraging entry of high-skilled individuals. The white paper highlights plans to boost sectors such as science and technology through accelerated visa processes. This includes an expanded Global Talent visa scheme and similar programmes aimed at attracting global experts.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
12-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
UK to end low-skilled visas, tighten settlement and citizenship rules
The United Kingdom on Monday released its long-awaited Immigration White Paper, setting out a stricter framework to reduce net migration, raise skill thresholds, and curb abuse of the system. The 82-page document, titled Restoring Control over the Immigration System, outlines wide-ranging changes across work, study, family and asylum routes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, speaking ahead of the paper's release, said, 'Today, we publish a white paper on immigration, a strategy absolutely central to my plan for change that will finally take back control of our borders and close the book on a squalid chapter for our politics, our economy and our country.' He said the previous government had allowed net migration to spiral out of control despite public promises to reduce it. 'Between 2019 and 2023, even as they were going round our country telling people with a straight face that they would get immigration down, net migration quadrupled, until in 2023 it reached nearly 1 million. That's about the population of Birmingham. That's not control. It's chaos,' said Starmer. Figures from the Office for National Statistics show that net migration rose from 224,000 in the year to June 2019 to 906,000 in the year ending June 2023. The white paper proposes raising the skilled worker threshold to degree level (RQF 6) and removing the Immigration Salary List, which currently allows some workers to qualify with lower pay. Access to the points-based system will now be limited to occupations with long-term shortages and clear workforce strategies. 'Measures unveiled in the Immigration White Paper will reshape our immigration system towards those who contribute most to economic growth, with higher skills standards for graduates and workers,' the UK Home Office said in a release accessed by *Business Standard*. Employers will be required to boost domestic training efforts. 'New requirements on employers to boost domestic training will end the reliance on international recruitment, restoring order to a failed system that saw net migration quadruple between 2019 and 2023,' the Home Office added. A new Labour Market Evidence Group will be created to assess labour needs based on data, rather than relying on migration to fill gaps. Sector bodies across government will be consulted as part of this process. The government will end new international recruitment for adult social care visas. Existing visa holders already in the UK will be allowed to extend or switch visas domestically until 2028 during a transition period. The policy will remain under review as the government develops a broader social care workforce plan. The white paper sets out stricter compliance rules for education providers sponsoring international students. Sponsors that are close to failing will be placed under action plans, including recruitment caps. Graduates will now be allowed to stay in the UK for only 18 months after completing their studies, down from two years under current rules. Family routes and deportation powers The government plans to simplify family and private life immigration rules and restrict the use of Article 8 rights to block deportations. A new legal framework will clarify that Parliament decides who may remain in the UK. The Home Office will also revise deportation criteria for foreign national offenders to include all convictions, not just prison sentences. Statutory exceptions will be amended to reflect the seriousness of crimes such as violence against women and girls. Tightening rules for asylum and abuse New visa controls, restrictions, and sanctions will be introduced in countries where the UK sees repeated abuse of its immigration system. Asylum seekers whose country conditions have not changed materially may also face new limits, especially if they claim asylum only after arrival. Sponsors of migrant workers and students who break the rules may face financial penalties or sanctions. Longer pathway to settlement and citizenship The standard qualifying period for settlement will be doubled to 10 years. The points-based approach will be extended to settlement and citizenship applications, with further details to be tabled in Parliament by the end of the year. Language and integration New English language requirements will be introduced across more immigration routes, covering both main applicants and dependants. Applicants may also be assessed for language improvement over time. Access for top global talent While tightening most routes, the government plans to expand access for highly skilled individuals. This includes: < Increasing placements under the research interns scheme < Easing access to the Global Talent visa < Reviewing the Innovator Founder and High Potential Individual visas Faster entry will be considered for roles in strategic sectors such as science and technology. Next steps Starmer said the white paper marks a decisive break from the system inherited from the previous government. 'This plan means migration will fall,' he said, adding that the notion that high migration guarantees high growth had failed to deliver. 'You can't simply pull up a drawbridge... but we do have to ask why parts of our economy seem almost addicted to importing cheap labour rather than investing in the skills of people who are here and want a good job,' said Starmer. Further reforms to asylum and border control are expected later this summer, in line with the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill now moving through Parliament.
