Future immigration system must be realistic to needs

The government has published a White Paper on a future skills based immigration system for the UK, meaning UK immigration rules will apply to EU and non-EU migrants alike in a single skills-based system.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid has announced a new route for skilled workers, strengthened border security and an end to free movement as part of a new immigration system, in a move that the Home Office says will enable employers to have access to the skills they need from around the world, while ensuring net migration is reduced to sustainable levels.

With the possibility of tens of thousands of low-skilled immigrants potentially come into the UK to work for up to a year, NHS Providers and NHS Employers are among the health organisations to criticise the announcement, mainly because of its its minimum salary requirement of £30,000 for all migrants, including those from the EU, for new five-year working visas. NHS leaders argue this will affect low-skilled migration and do not ‘provide a long-term solution to the needs of the NHS’.

The government proposals also include the removal of the 20,700 Tier 2 certificates of sponsorship cap for skilled workers, six months’ post-study leave offered to all master’s students and bachelor’s students studying at an institution with degree-awarding powers and a temporary paid-for visa route for all skill levels (not extending to families), which will have a 12-month cooling off period to prevent individuals from working in the UK permanently.

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “We are deeply concerned about how some of the measures outlined in the white paper will impact the ability of the health and care sector to recruit the number of people it needs to safely staff services and meet the future healthcare demands of the population. High skilled does not equal highly paid. Any salary threshold must be realistic about the starting pay for a number of vital health and care roles including nurses, paramedics, social care workers, porters, cleaners and junior doctors. These roles are critical to the sustainability of health and care services.

Announcing the measures, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “These proposals are the biggest change to our immigration system in a generation. We are taking a skills-based approach to ensure we can attract the brightest and best migrants to the UK. These measures will boost our economy and benefit the British people.”