HOME OFFICE News
Release (189/2008) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 11
November 2008
The number of jobs
available to foreign workers through the shortage occupation route
will be reduced, the Government announced today.
The shortage occupation list sets out those jobs for which there
are not enough resident workers, and will be used as part of the
skilled worker tier (Tier 2) of the Australian-style points
system, which will be launched on 27 November. Tier 2 of the
points system will ensure that British jobseekers get the first
shot at jobs and only those foreign workers we need will be able
to come to the UK. Recent Government work to ensure British
workers are skilled and competitive means that many of the
previous gaps in the labour market have been filled. As a result,
today's list is tighter than ever before and will see a
reduction of more than 200,000 positions in occupations with
shortages that need be filled by migrant workers.
The number of positions available to migrants has been reduced
from one million to just under 800,000, ensuring that only those
foreign workers we need - and no more - can come here.
Border and Immigration Minister Phil Woolas said:
"The Australian-style points system is flexible, allowing us
to raise or lower the bar according to the needs of business and
taking population trends into account.
"Had the points system been in place last year there would
have been 12 per cent fewer people coming in to work through the
equivalent work permit route. On top of this, the strict new
shortage list means 200,000 fewer jobs are available via the
shortage occupation route."
Under Tier 2 companies must pass the Resident Labour Market test
by proving they cannot fill the post with a resident worker before
they can bring in someone from outside the EEA. If the job is on
the shortage list the company will not need to pass the test.
The Government publishes today's shortage occupation list
following advice from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC).
Their recommended list has been adopted in full - with the
addition of social workers, who will remain on the list while
further evidence is considered by the MAC.
Further Education Minister Sion Simon said:
"This Government is making an unprecedented investment in
skills and training to ensure that UK residents do not lose out to
overseas workers or see jobs go abroad because of a lack of skills.
"We have recently made a number of funding deals with
employers, worth £630 million over three years, to give them
greater access to flexible, bespoke training aimed at tackling
skills shortages in their sectors.
"The deals cover sectors such as catering, hospitality and
construction." To get in under Tier 2 skilled foreign workers
must have:
* English language skills;
* prospective earnings of more than £24,000, or slightly less if
they have a decent qualification - or an offer of a job on the
shortage list;
* enough money to support themselves for the first month of their
stay. Employers will need to get a sponsor licence to enable them
to bring migrant workers into the country from outside the
European Economic Area. They will be checked out by the UK Border
Agency and will sign up to certain duties. This means that
Government will share the responsibility for migrant workers with
those who benefit from them. The Home Office last week helped
businesses to prepare for the changes by publishing detailed
guidance on Tiers 2 and 5 (skilled workers and temporary workers
respectively) of the system. The tough points system is just one
part of the biggest shake up to immigration and border security in
45 years, along with the fingerprinting of anyone travelling to
the UK on a visa and compulsory ID cards for foreign nationals.
NOTES TO EDITORS
1. The shortage occupation list can be found here: http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/
2. For any employer who breaks the rules and employs foreign
nationals who have no right to work in the UK, the outcome is
clear - huge fines are already being handed out by the UK Border
Agency. This year's much tougher enforcement campaign has
already issued over 1,000 fines worth around £9.7 million.
3. The Government has asked the MAC to review the evidence in
relation to the following occupations:
a. social workers;
b. skilled chefs;
c. senior care
workers;
d. qualified town planners; and
e. teachers.
4. The MAC will work closely with employers and others within
those sectors to ensure they have the evidence they need to review
whether it is appropriate to include these occupations on the
shortage occupation list. The MAC will then report to Government
by March 2009 with their recommendations about whether these
occupations should be included on the list.
5. The previous shortage occupation list covered 1 million jobs.
Today's list covers just under 800,000 jobs.
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