Points-based immigration system needs modification

A group of economic advisers have expressed their opinion regarding the need for strengthening the new points-based immigration system of the UK for allowing skilled workers from outside the EU to get into the country.

A group of economic advisers have expressed their opinion regarding the need for strengthening the new points-based immigration system of the UK for allowing skilled workers from outside the EU to get into the country.

The Migration Advisory Committee said that there should be an increase in the earning threshold and jobs should be advertised in the UK for a longer period. It also recommended increase in penalties for abusing rules and strengthening of arrangements required for transferring within firms.

On its part, the Home Office said that the robust and through report would definitely be considered very carefully.

The committee was also a bit concerned with the ‘tier two’ of the system which is for skilled people who have a prior job offer. Almost half such workers come from India, and most others from Australia and the US.

David Metcalf, chairman of the committee, said that though the tier two is working reasonably well, their advice to the government is that higher standards from skilled workers from outside the EU would be beneficial for the labor market. He said that the committee believes selective immigration favoring skilled workers, like the points-based system, is important to make sure that UK is seen as a great place for doing business and investing. However, he said, it is important to make sure that British workers are not replaced at the workforce by foreign workers. Keeping this in view, the committee has made a number of recommendations to the government which would be helpful in avoiding undercutting and hindrances to raise UK workers skills.