British Interior Minister James Cleverly announced on Monday that the UK is increasing the salary threshold for foreign workers' visas.
The effort is part of a package of measures to cut net migration to the United Kingdom and seeks to raise the minimum salary that migrants to the region must earn in a job by a third. It comes after record net migration last year piled pressure on British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, compelling him to address the issue.
Increase in Salary Threshold for Foreign Workers' Visa
For more than a decade, Britain's political landscape has been dominated by high levels of legal migration. Sunak has pledged to gain more control over the issue after lawmakers in his Conservative Party criticized his record ahead of an election next year.
Additionally, successive conservative-led administrations have promised to reduce migration and have previously set a target of a net figure of less than 100,000. Cleverly's announcement included raising the salary threshold for foreign skilled workers to $48,800 from the current $33,000, as per Aljazeera.
The official also said that the British government would reform the list of jobs where exceptions are made due to shortages. They would also toughen rules on whether or not workers are allowed to bring their families to the country.
In his remarks, Cleverly said that migration to the UK is far too high and needs to be brought down. He noted that the announcement he made marked the time when the government started taking more robust action than ever before.
Cleverly noted that the new package of measures would take place from next spring. They could lead to new disputes with business owners who have been struggling to hire workers in the past few years. This is due to Britain's persistently tight labor market and the end of free movement from the European Union following Brexit.
The British government is also planning to scrap the 20% salary discount on shortage occupations. Officials would ask the Migration Advisory Committee to review the occupations on the list in accordance with the new salary threshold, according to Personnel Today.
Addressing High Migration
Cleverly added that the immigration health surcharge would be raised by 66% from $788 to $1,037. The British official added that this means the health service gets an additional $1.64 billion per year.
He noted that the government is working to put an end to the abuse of the health and care visa. Cleverly said that they would stop overseas care workers from bringing their family dependents and would require care firms in the region to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission in order for them to sponsor visas.
Additionally, the British government would increase the minimum threshold for a family visa to $48,800 to make sure that migrants are only bringing dependents whom they can financially support.
Following the tightening of who can bring in family members on student visas earlier this year, the British government will ask the Migration Advisory Committee to review the graduate route. This is to "prevent abuse and protect the integrity and quality of UK higher education," said Sky News.
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