Skilled worker rules

Latest announcement affects skilled workers

Wednesday, 10, Sep 2008 12:00

Plans to cut the number of skilled migrants have raised questions about the government's ability to cope with immigration issues.

The independent migration advisory committee has recommended cutting the number of jobs where recruitment shortages are so bad the government will permit migrants from outside Europe to take them.

At present the occupation shortage list covers one million jobs but new proposals are set to see this reduced to 700,000.

The announcement covers tier two of the five-tier points-based system. Rules for highly skilled migrants (tier one) came into force in February while those for tier five, which affects mainly non-economic visitors, will be introduced alongside tier two in November.

Is the government in control of immigration? Will the points-based system help or hinder Britain's economy? And what political impact will the issue have on the nation's voters, many of whom are deeply uneasy about current trends?

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