Thousands of migrants will be asked to leave the UK under Government plans to clamp down on those abusing temporary visas to stay permanently. Immigration Minister Damian Green says Britain will be 'more selective about who we allow to stay' as immigration has hit record levels last year. Lot of Indians will be affected by this decision. The proposals, announced in a consultation exercise, will affect Indian skilled workers as well as domestic workers such as cooks and 'ayahs', who travel to Britain with their employers.
Mr Green has told MPs a clearer distinction was needed between temporary and permanent routes into the UK to ensure migrants do not take advantage of loopholes. The number of people granted settlement in the UK reached an all-time high in the 12 months to last September, up 35 per cent from the previous year to 238,950 - the highest level since records began in 1960.
'We intend to break the automatic link between coming to the UK to work and settling here permanently,' Mr Green said. Skilled workers coming to the UK from outside the EU, predominantly as a means of filling short-term skills shortages, 'should expect to leave the UK after a maximum of five years in the UK', he added.
'In future, only a tightly controlled minority will be permitted to stay permanently, where it is in the interests of the UK to do so.' The Government is also considering bringing in an English language requirement for dependants of migrants who wish to settle in the UK.
'This would oblige those wanting domestic workers to recruit instead from the UK labour market, with the rights and protections that affords,' Mr Green said. The current system, which enables domestic workers to stay for up to six years and then apply for settlement, is 'exceptionally generous, and sits ill with an immigration system focused on meeting identified skill shortages and securing the brightest and best migrants', Mr Green added. Temporary workers could also be restricted to 12-month stays 'to reinforce the temporary nature of the route'.
They could also been banned from bringing their dependants, or have their dependants' ability to work restricted. Dr Adam Marshall, director of policy and external affairs at the British Chambers of Commerce, said: 'Britain's migration system must protect our economy as well as our borders. 'Turfing out valuable migrant workers who are turned down for settlement would be incredibly disruptive to companies of all sizes, and to the UK's economic recovery. 'These proposals could also deter some skilled workers from coming to the UK in the first place.'
Sir Andrew Green, chairman of campaign group MigrationWatch UK, said the proposals were 'excellent news'. 'There will now be a real incentive for employers to train British workers rather than continue to take skilled foreign workers 'off the shelf' so as to avoid training costs,' he said.
Shadow home office minister Shabana Mahmood said Labour backed reform of the settlement regime.
But she warned that changes would only be effective 'if they are backed up by strong and consistent enforcement of the rules' and highlighted recent critical reports of the UK Border Agency. 'On top of this, the Government has imposed a 20% cut on the UKBA budget, which will mean the loss of over 5,000 jobs,' she said.
'The Government needs to be straight with the public. 'Its key pledge on immigration - to reduce net migration to the tens of thousands by 2015 - is in disarray, and they have once again failed to explain to the public how this will be achieved. 'The Government talks tough on immigration, but it is clear that it is failing to deliver.'
Rajni Bhatla, Director of Kampus Landing at the leading overseas education consulting organization says, “This decision of the UK government will make UK as a destination less attractive to Indian students.”
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