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Cap on Non-EU Immigration a Step Closer

Posted on June 30, 2010 by Lewis Silkin

LS Immigration II.jpgThe UK's new coalition government has opened a consultation on its proposal to introduce a limit on the number of migrants from outside the Europe Union coming to work in the UK.  This forms part of wider government policy to "scale back net migration to the UK to the levels of the 1990s".

Following the consultation, which will run until 17 September 2010, the government will confirm details of how the limit will apply. It is due to be implemented by 1 April 2011. Businesses can take part in the consultation online, by email or by completing the response form on the UK Border Agency's website.

In the meantime, the government will be imposing an interim limit which will take effect from 19 July 2010. This will involve amending the points-based immigration system, established by the previous government, in the following ways:

  • capping the number of  highly-skilled ("Tier 1") migrants at current levels and raising the number of points needed by non-EU workers who come to do highly skilled jobs from 95 to 100; and
  • restricting the number of certificates of sponsorship that licensed employers can issue to those who wish to come to fill skilled job vacancies. The government predicts that this will reduce the number of people entering the UK through "Tier 2" by 1,300.

The Home Secretary has also asked the Migration Advisory Committee, the government's independent adviser on migration issues, to launch a separate consultation into what level the final limit should be set at, taking into account its potential social and economic impact.

This entry was written by George Koureas
Tags: European Union, Migration
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