he UK government, under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, is considering measures to limit overseas hiring in the IT, telecom, and engineering sectors. These potential changes in visa rules could significantly affect Indian professionals, who are among the primary recipients of UK work visas in these fields. The government is looking at various approaches, such as raising the minimum income threshold or imposing regional hiring restrictions within Britain.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has requested the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) to examine why these key sectors rely so heavily on skilled foreign workers. She pointed out that the high levels of international recruitment indicate persistent skill shortages in the UK labor market. The review will explore policy options to encourage these industries to hire more domestic workers, aiming to balance the benefits of international contributions to the economy with the need to manage immigration effectively.
The MAC has been given nine months to complete this review. This move comes after the government postponed a planned increase in the minimum income requirement for British nationals and permanent residents seeking to bring family members to the UK. The current threshold remains at GBP 29,000 annually, pending the MAC’s assessment of the policy’s impact on families.
Comments