# UK bans non-EU unskilled workers **URL:** \ **Category:** NYSpeed Off Topic\ **Created:** [December 5, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/uk-bans-non-eu-unskilled-workers/39799 "2007-12-05T15:15:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 3:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/uk-bans-non-eu-unskilled-workers/39799/1 "2007-12-05T15:15:45Z")
good plan overall… we need something like this. > **[BBC NEWS | UK | UK Politics | UK bans non-EU unskilled workers](http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/7129187.stm)** > > Unskilled workers from outside the EU will be barred from the UK "for the foreseeable future", a minister says. > ``` > UK bans non-EU unskilled workers > > ![http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44123000/jpg/_44123498_oxfordst203in_pa.jpg](http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/44123000/jpg/_44123498_oxfordst203in_pa.jpg) The government is concerned about impacts on social cohesion > > Unskilled workers from non-EU countries will be banned from taking jobs in the UK for the "foreseeable future", the government has said. Foreign nationals who want to marry a British person and come to the UK may also have to sit an English test. > > ``` > > The moves come as ministers unveil details of their new points-based system for migrants. > About 12,000 unskilled migrants from non-EU countries in Africa, America and Asia came to work in the UK last year. > Home Secretary Jacqui Smith set out the proposals, which come into force in 100 days’ time, in a speech at the London School of Economics. > She said that immigration policy should not just be about economics but should also take into account the wider impact on society. > > [**How points system will work for high skilled migrants**](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/7129187.stm#graph) > She also stressed the importance of migrants learning English. > Ms Smith told BBC News the aim of the proposals was to “control those who come here, for the good of the country”. > **‘Key contributors’** > In moves aimed at strengthening “British values”, Ms Smith wants a clampdown on forced marriages, English tests for spouses applying to enter the UK and tighter restrictions on convicted criminals gaining citizenship. > It comes ahead of the launch of an Australian-style points-based immigration system in the early part of next year. > Immigration Minister Liam Byrne earlier set out how the five-tier system would work for highly skilled migrants, which he defined as those who are “key contributors” to the UK economy. > ![http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/5/6/56d45f8a17f5078a20af9962c992ca4678450765.gif) ![http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/9/a/9a99d4525746f99f5f3e9811a9af4af4fee54f79.gif) **We are not running immigration policy in the exclusive interest of the British business community**![http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/8/a/8aceae4546180d15f03c9b31669ce21ab7f67de2.gif) > > ``` > Liam Byrne, immigration minister > > ``` > > They include people who work in “financial and public services, education and health, ICT and business”. > With the exception of Romania and Bulgaria, there are no restrictions on people from EU countries coming to work in the UK. > But those from outside the EU will have to pass a number of tests designed to ensure they have value for the UK economy. > **Economic contribution** > People applying to come to the UK as a Highly Skilled Migrant will be awarded points based on their qualifications, age, previous salary or the amount of money they are planning to invest in the economy. > > [**How points system for graduates will work**](http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/in_depth/629/629/7128994.stm) > The new system will supersede the existing Highly Skilled Migrants programme, which also evaluates people on their likely economic contribution. > Under the new system, someone aged under 28 with a PhD, for example, who has previous annual earnings of at least £16,000 a year, will gain the 75 points necessary for entry. > University graduates who have not gone on to do a masters or PHD would need to prove previous earnings of at least £40,000 a year to gain entry. > **Business community** > Successful highly skilled applicants will also need to have passed a test in English, equivalent to GCSE Grade C or above. > They will not need a job offer and may be able to settle in Britain after two years. > ![http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/5/6/56d45f8a17f5078a20af9962c992ca4678450765.gif) ![http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/start_quote_rb.gif](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/9/a/9a99d4525746f99f5f3e9811a9af4af4fee54f79.gif) **The government’s approach to this issue has been disfigured by a combination of tough-talking populism and utter administrative incompetence**![http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/img/v3/end_quote_rb.gif](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/uploads/speedlife/original/3X/8/a/8aceae4546180d15f03c9b31669ce21ab7f67de2.gif) > > ``` > Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrats > > ``` > > They will also be able to bring wives, partners and children to the UK, who will be able to take jobs. > But if their dependants want to apply to be in the UK in their own right they will have to leave the country to make an application. > Details of the points system for skilled workers, students and temporary workers will be announced next year. > But Mr Byrne said plans to include unskilled workers in the system had been shelved “for the foreseeable future”. > Mr Byrne denied the move would lead to labour shortages in the construction and other industries, saying: “We think Britain’s needs for low-skilled workers can be fulfilled from within the EU.” > But he said voters’ concerns about immigration and its impact on communities had been taken into account, adding: “We are not running immigration policy in the exclusive interest of the British business community.” > > Mr Byrne said a “greater sense of shared protections and shared values should be a necessary condition of citizenship”. > He said it was important to “strike a balance” between economic needs and the wider impact of immigration on communities. > **Marriage age** > Mr Byrne said he doubted banning non-EU migrants would be “pain free” and stressed that it would be kept under review by an independent panel. > The number of unskilled migrants from outside the EU is already restricted, with only about 12,000 permitted to take jobs in the UK in the past year under existing sector-based and agricultural schemes. > That will be reduced to zero, with all migrant jobs in low skilled sectors expected to be filled by workers from Bulgaria and Romania. > According to official figures, 234,000 migrant workers moved to work in the UK from the EU in 2006, mainly from Eastern European countries such as Poland - of which about 40% are thought to be low skilled. > Asked if the new restrictions should not also apply to eastern Europeans, Mr Byrne said Britain was bound by EU laws on the free movement of labour. > **‘Tough talking’** > Conservative immigration spokesman Damian Green said the points-based system was “half a good idea” but there should be “an annual limit on how many people can come here”. > Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Nick Clegg said the government should concentrate on “getting the basics right” on immigration. > “For the last 10 years the government’s approach to this issue has been disfigured by a combination of tough-talking populism and utter administrative incompetence,” said Mr Clegg. > Sir Andrew Green, of pressure group Migration Watch, said the points system had a fatal weakness. > "There’s no upper limit. A huge majority of the public want to see an upper limit - the Home Office’s own opinion survey that they published last week showed that a majority of the country want to see less than 10,000 immigrants a year. > “At the moment there are 300,000 - so the government is just not within sight of public opinion on this and this scheme is simply not going to produce the limitation that everyone wants to see.” > **Criminals** > The Home Office earlier published a consultation paper on making it a condition of entry that spouses who apply for visas to join husband or wife in the UK should have to pass a basic English test. > Around 47,000 spouses were admitted to the UK last year. > On forced marriage, there are proposals to raise the age at which a person can sponsor or be sponsored to come to the UK for marriage is raised from 18 to 21. > The rules on deporting convicted criminals will also be tightened-up so that no-one with an unspent conviction - in effect anyone who has been jailed for more than 30 months - will be given citizenship. > > **ENTRY TO UK FOR HIGHLY-SKILLED MIGRANTS** > **All categories except Investors require English** > ``` > Category Specific criteria General Qualifications Previous earnings Age UK experience Entrepreneurs £200,000 held in regulated financial institution and disposable in UK Investors £1m held in regulated financial institution and disposable in UK Post-study work Eligible qualification Eligible UK institution Obtained while holding student leave or as dependant Apply within 12 months of qualifying Source: Home Office > > ``` ``` ![http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/shared/img/o.gif](upload://co84kRo5eefwC6rrqw6AdrITTvv.gif) ``` ---
**Author:** ![camarojoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 3:22pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/uk-bans-non-eu-unskilled-workers/39799/2 "2007-12-05T15:22:54Z")
They got Mighty Tacos over there? :meh: ---
**Author:** ![matter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/97f17d/32.png) [@matter](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/matter)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/uk-bans-non-eu-unskilled-workers/39799/3 "2007-12-05T15:24:17Z")
good for them ---
**Author:** ![theblue](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forums.speedlife.net/theblue/32/5074_2.png) [@theblue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/theblue)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2007, 3:24pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/uk-bans-non-eu-unskilled-workers/39799/4 "2007-12-05T15:24:44Z")
no, but you can buy a corvette now.