Indians and other overseas workers will find it more difficult to find employment in the UK as a result of the country’s new immigration restrictions. The recently tabled White Paper on UK Immigration has introduced several new rules that restrict foreign workers from getting jobs in the United Kingdom.
UK’s new rules for foreign workers and setting higher salary thresholds will make it tough for Indian and other overseas workers to get jobs in the UK. Some of the measures announced include restricted permissions for low-skilled jobs, tougher limits for family visas, increased wage standards, and degrees required for foreign workers.
Most low-skilled foreign workers use the lower-skilled migration route and the Skilled Worker Visa to land jobs in the UK. The first stage of the UK is targeting the lower-skilled migration with much tighter restrictions.
There are changes expected to the Skilled Worker Visa, making shortage occupations temporary and linking immigration with skills and training.
Higher Level of Skill Required
The threshold for Skilled Workers was previously set at RQF 6 and above. The previous Government lowered the threshold to RQF 3 (A-level equivalent) and above in 2020. The White Paper on Immigration proposes to lift the level for skilled workers back to RQF 6 and above. Also, salary thresholds are proposed to be raised.
The Regulated Qualifications Framework (RQF) is a system used to categorise qualifications based on their level of difficulty and complexity. Occupations that require an RQF 6 or above skill level are deemed highly skilled. The newly introduced Skilled Worker visa lowered the skill threshold on the route from RQF 6 down to RQF 3.
Those who are already utilising the Skilled Worker visa, from the point that the skills threshold is raised, existing Skilled Worker visa holders will continue to be able to renew their visa, change employment and take supplementary employment, in currently eligible occupations below RQF 6; however, applicants from overseas, or those applying to switch from other routes, will have to follow the
new rules.
Further, the Immigration Salary List, which gives people discounts from salary thresholds, will be abolished, and the minimum wage itself will see a higher threshold.
Yash Dubal, Managing Director of A Y & J Solicitors, says, “It is a decisive but double-edged reset. This paper signals the end of an era for low-skilled migration and an ambitious shift toward productivity-first immigration. But we must ensure that this transition is not only enforceable, but economically and socially sustainable.”
New Temporary Shortage List
UK will establish a new Temporary Shortage List to provide time-limited access to the Points-Based immigration system. Occupations below RQF 6 will be listed on the Temporary Shortage List in order to gain access to the immigration system. Further, sectors will only be potentially added to the Temporary Shortage list if they are key to the industrial strategy or delivering critical infrastructure.
For occupations with a skills requirement of RQF 3-5 (below degree level) where there have been long-term shortages, the UK will only permit use of the Points-Based immigration system on a time-limited basis.
Immigration Skills Charge
Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) has not been increased or subject to a comprehensive policy review since its introduction in 2017. With our focus on linking skills, migration and wider labour market policies together, the UK will increase the ISC for the first time since its introduction, by 32% to bring the ISC rates in line with inflation.
Immigration Skills Charge applies to workers sponsored in the UK under the Skilled Worker route and is paid by a licensed sponsor through their sponsor management system (SMS) account when they assign a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS).
“Requiring RQF6 excludes many mid-skilled jobs, and closing the Health & Care visa will end a major entry route. About 39,000 Indian care visas were issued in 2023; halting this path will greatly affect migrant care workers. A 6% tuition levy – likely passed on to students- is predicted to deter about 7,000 applicants a year. It may deepen financial strains, since international fees currently help subsidize UK students,” says Sanjay Laul, Founder of MSM Unify.