MUMBAI: The UK government has announced a plethora of immigration related policy amendments, as part of its policy to increase the domestic workforce through its ‘Back to Work Plan’ which focuses on helping UK nationals get off government benefits and back into the workforce. This decision also follows a record high net migration level of 7,45,000 in 2022.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said, “It is clear that net migration remains far too high … my plan will deliver the biggest ever reduction in net migration and will mean around 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would not have been able to do so.” These changes will come into effect in the second quarter of 2024.
To begin with, the minimum general salary for occupations under the Skilled Worker Route stands increased to GBP 38,700 from GBP 26,200—an increase of nearly 48%. According to an alert issued by Fragomen, a global immigration law firm, some sectors such as hospitality, which rely on the lower minimum salary, may have to cut positions in order to be able to meet the higher salary levels.
As regards migrant health and social care workers, while they are exempt from the increase in minimum salary levels, they will no longer be able to bring their dependents (say spouse and children) to the UK.
TOI had earlier covered the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee. Its recommendations have been accepted and the policy that enabled migrant workers hired for job positions in a shortage occupation list to be paid a salary of up to 20% less than the market rate, stands abolished.
Lastly, in a bid to curb family sponsorship UK citizens who seek to sponsor their foreign dependents will be required to have a minimum income of GBP 38,700 per year, up from GBP 18,600 which is an increase of over 100%.
Fragomen points out that new measures may cause significant difficulties for employers who are still adjusting to labor shortages post-Brexit and whose sectors have not yet reached the point of benefiting from alternative strategies to migration, such as increased training to address labor shortages.
Home Secretary James Cleverly said, “It is clear that net migration remains far too high … my plan will deliver the biggest ever reduction in net migration and will mean around 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would not have been able to do so.” These changes will come into effect in the second quarter of 2024.
To begin with, the minimum general salary for occupations under the Skilled Worker Route stands increased to GBP 38,700 from GBP 26,200—an increase of nearly 48%. According to an alert issued by Fragomen, a global immigration law firm, some sectors such as hospitality, which rely on the lower minimum salary, may have to cut positions in order to be able to meet the higher salary levels.
As regards migrant health and social care workers, while they are exempt from the increase in minimum salary levels, they will no longer be able to bring their dependents (say spouse and children) to the UK.
TOI had earlier covered the recommendation of the Migration Advisory Committee. Its recommendations have been accepted and the policy that enabled migrant workers hired for job positions in a shortage occupation list to be paid a salary of up to 20% less than the market rate, stands abolished.
Lastly, in a bid to curb family sponsorship UK citizens who seek to sponsor their foreign dependents will be required to have a minimum income of GBP 38,700 per year, up from GBP 18,600 which is an increase of over 100%.
Fragomen points out that new measures may cause significant difficulties for employers who are still adjusting to labor shortages post-Brexit and whose sectors have not yet reached the point of benefiting from alternative strategies to migration, such as increased training to address labor shortages.