HOME OFFICE News
Release (157/2008) issued by COI News Distribution Service. 9
September 2008
A strict new list
of shortage jobs which targets migration better at the needs of
British businesses, while reinforcing the selective approach of
the new Australian-style points based system, was presented to the
Home Office today by independent advisors.
The recommended shortage occupation list would bring in a more
flexible, larger set of work categories but would see the number
of individual positions open to migrants reduced by 30 per cent.
The Home Office tasked the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), an
independent panel of economists, with overhauling the current
shortage occupation list and will now pressure test their
recommendations carefully before publishing the final list in October.
The MAC's recommended list follows the most comprehensive
study of its kind ever conducted anywhere in the world. It reduces
the number of jobs open to migrants from one million to 700,000.
The list also defines more tightly which positions cannot easily
be filled by resident workers.
Border and Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said:
"Our new Australian-style points system is flexible to meet
the needs of British business while ensuring that only those we
want and no more can come here to work. This tough new shortage
occupation list supports that. "This strict list means 30 per
cent fewer jobs are available to migrants via the shortage
occupation route.
"Those that do come will need to work hard, play by the
rules and speak English."
The final shortage occupation list will be published by the Home
Office next month ahead of the skilled worker tier of the points
system - known as Tier 2 - coming on-line in November.
Tier 2 will ensure that opportunities for British jobseekers are
maintained by requiring companies to prove they cannot fill the
post with a resident worker before recruiting from outside Europe.
To get in under Tier 2 skilled foreign workers must have:
* a good grasp of English;
* prospective earnings of more than £24,000 or have a good
qualification; and
* enough money to support themselves for the first month of their stay.
The MAC report recommends that sectors should develop training
strategies and look beyond migration for new recruits, which
directly supports the Government's aim to upskill the British
workforce and ensure Britain remains a global leader in skills.
Mr Byrne said:
"We are grateful for the work the Migration Advisory
Committee has carried out. We will be pressure testing their
conclusions before publishing our final list in October, so that
the points system can come online just as we promised - on time.
"Our tough new points system plus our plans for newcomers to
earn their citizenship will reduce overall numbers of economic
migrants coming to Britain and the numbers awarded permanent settlement.
"Crucially, the points system means only the migrants with
the skills Britain needs can come - and no more. Unlike made-up
quotas, this stops Government cutting business off from the skills
it needs when they need them."
Notes to editors
1. In March 2006 the Government published a Command Paper setting
out the new PBS, 'A points-based system: Making Migration
work for Britain'. The new system consolidates the many
complex routes into just five tiers. It is designed to facilitate
entry to the UK of all those wanting to come to work, train and study.
2. Tier 2 (for skilled migrants) is one of five tiers of the PBS.
It will be introduced in November this year, along with Tier 5
(for primarily non-economic visitors). Tier 1, for highly skilled
migrants, was introduced in February this year. Tier 3, which
covers low skilled routes, will only be used if specific shortages
are identified that cannot be filled from the UK's domestic
or European labour force.
3. Since the Home Office introduced new penalties for employers
to combat illegal working in February, 611 fines worth around £6
million have been issued.