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UK jobs 'open to non-EU workers' 'No decision' on non-EU workers
(about 4 hours later)
Skilled UK workers would face competition for jobs from every country in the world, under plans being considered by the government. The government says no decision has been taken on how high the salary for a British job will have to be for it to be open to anyone across the world.
Currently employers must ensure jobs are filled by EU citizens before they seek workers from outside the EU. The Conservatives have claimed that new rules are being considered which mean anyone who gets a job paying over about £40,000 would not need a work permit.
But ministers are considering dropping the "resident labour test" for jobs paying above a certain amount - reported to be about £40,000 a year. Ministers stress they are not dropping the test which means all jobs have to be offered to EU citizens first.
The move would come as part of the UK's new points-based immigration system. The Home Office says the final details of the scheme are due in March.
Unskilled workers from outside the EU will be banned from seeking work in the UK for the "forseeable future" under the system, to be introduced later this year. That statement of intent will set out how much the upper salary limit for the labour market test will be.
'Not dropping test'
Challenged about the alleged changes in the Commons, Home Office minister Caroline Flint said: "There will be no dropping of the labour market test."
Negotiations are under way with employers over how the points-based immigration system will work in practice.
The government has already said unskilled workers from outside the EU will be banned from seeking work in the UK for the "foreseeable future".
Highly qualified people, entrepreneurs and investors with more than £1m to spend will automatically gain entry as "tier one" migrants.Highly qualified people, entrepreneurs and investors with more than £1m to spend will automatically gain entry as "tier one" migrants.
'Protecting labour market' Under tier two, which applies to wide range of white collar professions and trades, employers will have to prove they have advertised the job in the UK and showed there were no British or EU residents who qualified for the position.
Firms seeking a wide range of "tier two" skilled workers, including many professionals, will still have to conduct a resident labour test to see if they can be filled from within the EU. But the rules will not apply in what are deemed to be shortage occupations or above a certain salary threshold - details of which will be announced in March.
But under changes to be outlined in March, many firms previously discouraged from recruiting from outside the EU, from China, America, Australia and Africa and East Asia, could see restrictions lifted. Candidates will still have to demonstrate good English and have enough points to get a job, however.
A Home Office spokeswoman said the government's priority would remain "protecting the British labour market".
But there were "ongoing discussions" with industry and other interested parties over dropping the resident labour test for jobs paying above a certain level.
She said: "We want to ensure we create a more efficient and better-targeted system."
The government would be making an anouncement in March on the salary level above which firms would be able to seek employees from outside the EU, the spokeswoman said.
She refused to comment on reports it would be £40,000.
'Shortage occupation''Shortage occupation'
Conservative MP James Clappison, who raised the issue earlier at a Commons home affairs committee meeting, said it was a "major change" which could potentially affect more than 2.5 million workers in the UK. Conservative MP James Clappison, who raised the issue on Tuesday at a Commons home affairs committee meeting, said it was a "major change" which could potentially affect more than 2.5 million workers in the UK.
"What it means is that employers will be able to bypass the domestic labour market and recruit directly from outside the the EU," he told BBC News. "What it means is that employers will be able to bypass the domestic labour market and recruit directly from outside the EU," he told BBC News.
"How on earth does this square with the government's promise of British jobs for British workers?" added Mr Clappison."How on earth does this square with the government's promise of British jobs for British workers?" added Mr Clappison.
Explaining the points-based system to the Lords economic affairs committee, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said "tier one" applicants would not require a sponsor and - because of their qualifications and earning potential - "should be free to find their own place in the labour market".Explaining the points-based system to the Lords economic affairs committee, Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said "tier one" applicants would not require a sponsor and - because of their qualifications and earning potential - "should be free to find their own place in the labour market".
Tier two applicants, which include a very wide range of white collar and professional, would need to be sponsored by an employer, said Mr Byrne.Tier two applicants, which include a very wide range of white collar and professional, would need to be sponsored by an employer, said Mr Byrne.
"We want people to be linked to a sponsor, a business, which has conducted a resident labour market test on the job that it is offering to the individual that is coming from abroad or who is employing people in a shortage occupation". "We want people to be linked to a sponsor, a business, which has conducted a resident labour market test on the job that it is offering to the individual that is coming from abroad or who is employing people in a shortage occupation."
The new independent Migration Advisory Committee will advise the government where vacancies can "sensibly" be filled by workers from outside the EU.The new independent Migration Advisory Committee will advise the government where vacancies can "sensibly" be filled by workers from outside the EU.
"We did want to create a difference in the points system between those individuals who we thought should effectively find their own place in the labour market and who we thought ought be tied to a particular employer," Mr Byrne said."We did want to create a difference in the points system between those individuals who we thought should effectively find their own place in the labour market and who we thought ought be tied to a particular employer," Mr Byrne said.
Asked why there was a "tier two" at all, he responded: "I can't actually forsee a situation where we are just letting anybody come in and find their own place in the labour market.Asked why there was a "tier two" at all, he responded: "I can't actually forsee a situation where we are just letting anybody come in and find their own place in the labour market.
"I think that might create administrative difficulties of its own.""I think that might create administrative difficulties of its own."
Meanwhile, the government is checking whether more than 6,000 people from outside the EU, with no right to work in the UK, were given National Insurance numbers and cleared to work in the security industry. The figure was reported by Channel Four News.Meanwhile, the government is checking whether more than 6,000 people from outside the EU, with no right to work in the UK, were given National Insurance numbers and cleared to work in the security industry. The figure was reported by Channel Four News.