UK doors will be virtually closed to foreign workers in over 70 professions

8th February 2011: The new shorter list of occupations eligible for migration under Tier 2 of the points-based system, as recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), is apprehended to cut the number of qualifying occupations from 192 to 121.

The worse affected will be foreign hairdressers, estate agents and even hotel managers. In fact, the door will now be virtually closed to non-EU workers in more than 70 professions.

The move could eventually see just under 10,000 fewer workers a year being granted visas.

Giving details, the UK Border Agency has asserted: `Occupations which were qualified as skilled to the old level, but are not to the new one, include retail managers, hairdressing and beauty salon managers, laboratory technicians, and estate agents.

The move follows the Government's pledge to cut net migration.

Elaborating on the new recommendations on the occupations to be removed from Tier 2 of the PBS, the UKBA said: `The MAC has recommended a new shorter list of occupations eligible for migration under Tier 2 of the points-based system.

`As part of its review of the immigration system, the government raised the threshold for Tier 2 visas to graduate level and commissioned the MAC to examine which occupations should qualify.

`The government asked that the MAC use the National Qualifications Framework (NQF) level 4 and above as the relevant benchmark. This will reduce the number of occupations qualifying for Tier 2 visas by 71, down from 192 to 121.

`The shorter list of occupations means that Tier 2 applicants will only be able to apply for jobs covering the most skilled 39 per cent of the labour market rather than the current 56 per cent’.

Chair of the Migration Advisory Committee, Professor David Metcalf, said: 'Skilled foreign workers make a valuable contribution to the British economy but, in the context of limits on migration, it is essential that the immigration system is designed to select those migrants we need the most.

'We have recognised this by ensuring our recommendations will allow the most skilled to continue to come and work here.'.

Categories: Immigration