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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| UK bans non-EU unskilled workers | UK bans non-EU unskilled workers |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Unskilled workers from non-EU countries will be banned from taking jobs in the UK for the "foreseeable future", the government has announced. | Unskilled workers from non-EU countries will be banned from taking jobs in the UK for the "foreseeable future", the government has announced. |
| Spouses who apply for entry to the UK may also have to sit English language assessments under new proposals. | Spouses who apply for entry to the UK may also have to sit English language assessments under new proposals. |
| The moves come as ministers unveil details of their new points-based system for migrants. | 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. | 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 is setting out the proposals, which come into force in 100 days' time, in a speech at the London School of Economics. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is setting out the proposals, which come into force in 100 days' time, in a speech at the London School of Economics. |
| She is expected to say that immigration policy should not just be about economics but should also take into account the wider impact on society. | She is expected to say 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 | How points system will work for high skilled migrants |
| In moves aimed at strengthening "British values," she will propose a clampdown on forced marriages, English tests for spouses applying to enter the UK and tighter restrictions on convicted criminals gaining citizenship. | In moves aimed at strengthening "British values," she will propose 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 April next year. | It comes ahead of the launch of an Australian-style points-based immigration system in April next year. |
| Immigration Minister Liam Byrne earlier set out how the system would work for the top tier of highly skilled migrants, which he defined as those who are "key contributors" to the UK economy. | Immigration Minister Liam Byrne earlier set out how the system would work for the top tier of highly skilled migrants, which he defined as those who are "key contributors" to the UK economy. |
| We are not running immigration policy in the exclusive interest of the British business community Liam Byrne, immigration minister | We are not running immigration policy in the exclusive interest of the British business community Liam Byrne, immigration minister |
| They include people who work in "financial and public services, education and health, ICT and business". | |
| There are no restrictions on people from EU countries coming to work in the UK. | 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. | |
| People applying for a visa 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. | People applying for a visa 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. |
| For example, someone aged under 28 with a PhD, 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 of PHD would need to be earning a minimum of £40,000 to gain entry. | |
| Business community | 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 be able to bring wives, partners and children to the UK, who will be able to take jobs, as dependants of successful applicants. | |
| But if dependants want to apply to be in the UK in their own right they will have to leave the country to make an application. | But if 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. | 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 points based system had been shelved "for the foreseeable future". | But Mr Byrne said plans to include unskilled workers in the points based system had been shelved "for the foreseeable future". |
| How points system for graduates will work | |
| Mr Byrne denied the move would lead to labour shortages in the construction and other industries, he said: "We think Britain's needs for low-skilled workers can be fulfilled from within the EU." | Mr Byrne denied the move would lead to labour shortages in the construction and other industries, he said: "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". | 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". | Mr Byrne said a "greater sense of shared protections and shared values should be a necessary condition of citizenship". |
| HIGH SKILLED MIGRANTS University graduatesBusiness people and investorsFinancial servicesIT workersEducation and health | |
| But he said it was important to "strike a balance" between economic needs and the wider impact of immigration on communities. | But he said it was important to "strike a balance" between economic needs and the wider impact of immigration on communities. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| Marriage age | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 MIGRANTSAll categories except Investors require EnglishCategory 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 | ENTRY TO UK FOR HIGHLY-SKILLED MIGRANTSAll categories except Investors require EnglishCategory 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 |
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