UK mulls visa curbs for Engineering & IT professionals: Here’s why

ISLAMABAD: The recently elected government of the United Kingdom (UK) is exploring the option of imposing visa restrictions on foreign workers in the engineering, information technology and telecommunications sectors.

As per the details, although no policy decision has yet been taken in this regard, the Home Secretary has hinted at a change in visa conditions in his latest discussions with the Migration Advisory Committee.

Yvette Cooper asked the Migration Advisory Committee on Wednesday to investigate which roles in tech and engineering are in short supply, whether there are any shortfalls in pay, training and conditions, and whether employers are hiring from overseas. How have you tried to adapt?

In his letter, the official highlighted that while the government is “very grateful for the contribution of people around the world to our economy”…the system needs to be regulated and controlled.”

Cooper wants the Migration Advisory Committee to “look at key occupations to understand the reasons they rely on international recruitment” and experts believe the changes could include a minimum wage for overseas workers in certain sectors. A range increase may also be involved.

The Home Secretary noted that the high level of international recruitment reflects weaknesses and continuing skills shortages in the UK labor market, and that the current system is not working in the national interest.

It should be noted that while the government wants to review jobs in some sectors, it has halted rules that prevented people earning less than £38,700 from bringing in foreign partners.

The salary hike was introduced during Rishi Sunak‘s tenure under which the government raised the minimum income requirement for sponsoring a foreign spouse or partner visa. The change was introduced to reduce legal immigration into the country.

As part of the plan, Sink’s government raised the income threshold from £18,600 to £29,000 in April, with plans to raise it to £34,500 later this year and £38,700 by early 2025.

There will be “no further change” to the current £29,000-a-year salary threshold for bringing in a family member from abroad, according to a fresh announcement by the new Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper.

The moratorium will remain in place until a review of family visa policy is completed and the Home Secretary has said she will instruct the Migration Advisory Committee to begin a review.