Government announce new UK points-based immigration system

The Home Secretary, Priti Patel, has announced the introduction of a new, point-based immigration system that will see the end of free movement and aim to create a “high wage, high skill, high productivity economy”. Here is what you need to know about the new system:

• The point-based system will come into effect from 1 January 2021 as ‘phase one’ and will continue in a phased approach to allow for adequate adaptation.
• EU, EEA and Swiss citizens and other non-visa nationals will not require a visa to enter the UK when visiting for up to 6 months unless they want to work whilst here, in which case, a visa will be required.
• Top priority will be given to highly skilled workers.
• Government will not introduce a route for general low-skilled or temporary workers, with the intent to remove reliance on cheap labour from Europe.  However, the seasonal agricultural visa pilot scheme which allows fruit and vegetable farmers to employ migrant workers for seasonal work for up to 6 months will be expanded - recognising the significant reliance this sector has on low-skilled temporary labour.
• The EU Settlement Scheme, opened in March 2019, has already received 3.2 million applications.  Individuals from the EU, EEA and Switzerland living in the UK before 31 December 2020, can apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK after 30 June 2021.
• Government recognises that these changes may put stress on the labour market and will continue to monitor market data carefully for the pressures on key sectors.
• The Migration Advisory Committee have published a report on their considerations for all aspects of the point-based system and will continue to assess the data and needs of the economy.

Skilled workers

• The salary threshold will be lowered from £30,000 to £25,600.
• If earners will be working for less than the threshold, but no less than £20,480, they may still be able to obtain immigration status provided they can demonstrate they posses a PhD in the relevant job, or they will be working in a job considered to be a ‘shortage occupation’ (i.e. nursing).
• Applicants will be able to ‘trade’ characteristics such as job offers or qualifications against a lower salary.
• The number of people who can come in on a skilled worker route will be suspended and the resident labour market test will no longer be a requirement.
• Skilled workers must be able to prove that they have been offered a job from an approved sponsor, that the job is at the required skill level and that they are able to speak English.
• Workers will need a minimum of 70 points to apply.
• A small number of the most highly skilled workers (possessing a qualification in a STEM subject (Science, Technology, Engineering or Maths)) will be able to enter without a job offer, provided they are endorsed by a relevant body.

To see the full guidance, click here. Further guidance will be released in due course.

Aspire comment

It is important that any EU workers already working in the UK apply for the EU Settlement Scheme to secure their future in the UK and employers will need to review their workforce to ensure that applications are made as the deadline approaches. It is essential that businesses assess their current reliance upon EU workers and how the introduction of a point-based system may affect the availability of labour to perform such work.

All businesses need to have a robust right to work check procedure in place to ensure that illegal work is prohibited.

For any advice on the above, please call us on 0121 445 6178 or email enquire@aspirepartnership.co.uk to speak to an advisor today.