LONDON, Feb 20 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Britain unveils a new
points-based immigration system that ends the free movement of people and prioritises those with high-skilled jobs.
The scheme is meant to replace the one Britain followed as a member of the
European Union.
Britain left the bloc after 47 years on Jan 31 and is set to stop
following EU rules when the post-Brexit transition period ends in December.
“We’re ending free movement, taking back control of our borders and
delivering on the people’s priorities,” UK Home Secretary Priti Patel said in
a statement.
Control of Britain’s borders was one of the issues that drove voters to
support a split from the other 27 EU nations in the 2016 membership
referendum.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson won a healthy majority in December’s general election and the plan is sure to win parliamentary support.
The government’s proposal requires each foreign worker to earn 70 points
to be eligible and a set number of points for each qualification or skill.
It awards the maximum 20 points for prospective migrants who will earn at
least 25,600 pounds and no points for those who will make the required minimum of 20,480 pounds.
Twenty points also go to people with an “appropriate skill level” and
another 20 for those who speak English “at required level”.
Britain’s current salary threshold for skilled migrants is 30,000 pounds.
People also earn 20 points who have jobs “in a shortage qualification” and
either 10 or 20 points for doctorate degrees in various fields.
“Applicants will be able to ‘trade’ characteristics such as their specific
job offer and qualifications against a lower salary,” the government proposal says.
It does not affect more than 3.2 million EU citizens who have applied to
stay in Britain under the official settlement scheme. — NNN-AGENCIES
