UK raises minimum salary threshold for foreign workers in anti-migration move

LONDON – The British government announced on Monday to increase the salary threshold for foreign worker’s visas as part of efforts to manage and decrease net migration.

Interior Minister James Cleverly outlined the government’s measures, including an increase in the minimum salary threshold for foreign skilled workers from £26, 200($33, 000) to £38,700($48,800). The reforms also include adjustments to the list of jobs exempted due to shortages and stricter regulations regarding workers bringing their families to the kingdom.

“This package plus our reduction in student dependents will mean around 300,000 fewer people will come in future years than have come to the UK last year,” Cleverly said.

As part of the drastic measures, it has also been announced that Health and social care visas will be exempt from the new higher threshold to meet NHS human resource needs.

For over a decade, high legal migration levels have been a prominent issue in Britain’s political discussions and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to exert more control to reduce migration.

Regarding the timeline, these changes will be implemented from next spring though business owners might oppose the move due to the fact that the kingdom faces labour shortages.

Recent data indicates that the annual net migration to the United Kingdom reached a record 745, 000 last year and has remained consistently high inviting criticism for the Indian-origin Prime Minister.

While the UK remains a sought-after destination for immigrants from disadvantaged backgrounds, it has also introduced visa programs targeting individuals from Ukraine and its former colony Hong Kong in recent times though the migration has become a bone of contention for lawmakers.