United Kingdom: The British government has unveiled a series of measures to reduce net migration to the country, including raising the minimum wage needed for foreign workers to qualify for a work visa.
The minimum salary needed for foreign workers to qualify for a work visa will be raised as part of a package of measures announced by the British government to reduce net migration to the country.
For over ten years, the political landscape of Britain has been dominated by high levels of legal migration, as per the statement. With his record called into question by members of his Conservative Party, the UK Prime Minister, Mr. Rishi Sunak, has promised to have more influence ahead of the next election. Conservative-led governments have pledged to reduce immigration, to achieve a net number of fewer than 100,000.
The UK’s Interior Minister, Mr. James Cleverly, announced on Monday that the government would tighten regulations regarding worker family mobility, change the list of jobs for which exceptions are granted due to shortages, and increase the minimum salary threshold for foreign skilled workers from $33,000 to $48,800.
“Migration to this country is far too high and needs to come down, and today we are taking more robust action than any other government before. This package of measures will take place from next spring,” Mr. Cleverly told lawmakers.
The measures could lead to new disputes with business owners who have struggled to hire workers in recent years given Britain’s persistently tight labour market and the end of free movement from the European Union following Britain’s departure from the bloc.
“This package plus our reduction in student dependents will mean around 300,000 fewer people will come in future years than have come to the UK last year,” Mr. Cleverly remarked.
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