Felicia Udeji Reporting
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom government has increased the general salary threshold for those arriving in the UK on a Skilled Worker visa from £26,200 to £38,700.
According to the Home Secretary, James Cleverly, the minimum wage increased by 48 per cent to cut migration and put British workers first in force.
Changes that are now in force will slash migration and prevent the undercutting of British workers by employers looking to recruit cheap labour from overseas.
In the statement issued on its website on Thursday, the UK businesses are now required to pay overseas workers coming to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa significantly more.
It said the government is to clamp down on the price of foreign labour and continues to deliver on its commitment to drive down net migration.
The UK government said this increase will help ensure the UK’s immigration system focuses on recruiting high-skilled workers, helping to grow the UK economy while bringing overall numbers down.
The government is clear that no sector should be permanently reliant on immigration, so today, the shortage occupation list has also been abolished, with employers no longer able to pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.
A new immigration salary list (ISL) has been created, following advice from the expert and independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
Roles on the list will only be included where they are skilled and in shortage, and if it is sensible to include them considering the efforts being made by sectors to invest in the resident workforce.
Inclusion on the list must not serve to reduce pay and undermine the recruitment of British workers.
Employers are encouraged to invest in training, upskilling, and hiring domestic workers first.