Rules on Immigrant Workers Tightened

A raft of new government measures has been announced this week, which aim to ensure that resident workers have every opportunity to fill UK vacancies before they are offered to workers abroad.
The Government has accepted the recommendations made by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) last month to tighten up the rules controlling when skilled workers are allowed to take jobs in the UK under the Government's points system.From next year, all jobs must be advertised to British workers in Jobcentre Plus for four weeks, extended from two weeks, before companies can seek to employ individuals from outside Europe.The Government will also extend the qualifying period for all those overseas workers who want to transfer to work at the UK base of their company – from next year they will have to have worked for their firm for at least a year rather than just six months prior to the move.The minimum salary that will allow an individual to qualify as a skilled worker and be eligible to work in the UK will also rise from £17,000 to £20,000.

Sc: Workplace Law Network

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