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| UK bans non-EU unskilled workers | UK bans non-EU unskilled workers |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Unskilled workers from non-EU countries will be banned from taking jobs in the UK for the "foreseeable future", the government has said. | 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. | 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. | 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 set out the proposals, which come into force in 100 days' time, in a speech at the London School of Economics. | 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. | She said that immigration policy should not just be about economics but should also take into account the wider impact on society. |
| She also stressed the importance of migrants learning English. | She also stressed the importance of migrants learning English. |
| "I think speaking English is a vital way in which you can be part of a community - you can access services and you can avoid exploitation. | |
| "And it's an important part of being part of our communities and I think it's right that we should set that as an expectation for people who are going to stay here - and a very basic level of English for those who are going to come here and who we want to be able to settle into our communities as quickly as possible." | |
| 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 proposes 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 proposes 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 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". | 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. | 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 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. | 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. |
| The new system will supersede the existing Highly Skilled Migrants programme, which also evaluates people on their likely economic contribution. | |
| 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. | 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 or PHD would need to prove previous earnings of at least £40,000 a year to gain 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 | Business community |
| Successful highly skilled applicants will also need to have passed a test in English, equivalent to GCSE Grade C or above. | 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. | They will not need a job offer and may be able to settle in Britain after two years. |
| They will also be able to bring wives, partners and children to the UK, who will be able to take jobs. | 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. | 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. | 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". | But Mr Byrne said plans to include unskilled workers in the system had been shelved "for the foreseeable future". |
| How points system for graduates will work | How points system for graduates will work |
| 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." | 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". | 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 | HIGH SKILLED MIGRANTS University graduatesBusiness people and investorsFinancial servicesIT workersEducation and health |
| He said it was important to "strike a balance" between economic needs and the wider impact of immigration on communities. | 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 | 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. | 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. | 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. |
| 'Tough talking' | '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". | 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. | 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. | "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. | 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. | "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." | "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 | 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. | 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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