Interim cap on non-EU migrant workers coming to UK


A temporary limit on the number of migrant workers from outside the EU allowed into the UK is to be introduced ahead of a planned permanent cap.

Home Secretary Theresa May will limit the number of workers to 24,100 - down around 5% - between now and April 2011.

The Conservatives' election pledge to curb immigration survived the coalition agreement with the Liberal Democrats.

Labour said that the introduction of an arbitary immigration cap "is fraught with difficulty".

The temporary cap is aimed at preventing a rush of applications before a permanent cap is set next April.

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It's very important that we allow businesses a free choice to bring in overseas nationals

Julia Onslow-Cole
Price Waterhouse Coopers,
Ms May will announce the move on Monday, as she launches a consultation process for deciding the level of the permanent cap.

According to the BBC's Mark Easton, the latest official immigration figures available are for 2008 and suggest 258,000 EU and returning British citizens - about 48% - came to the UK out of a total of 538,000 immigrants.

Julia Onslow-Cole, of PricewaterhouseCoopers, told the BBC that every overseas national brought by firms into the UK cost them three times as much as hiring a resident worker.

"They are not spending this money for nothing, they really need that expertise.

"Particularly in these economic times, I think it's very important that we allow businesses a free choice to bring in overseas nationals," she said.

The Bangladesh Caterers' Association - which represents 12,000 Asian restaurants across the UK - says a cap on immigration will have a serious effect on their ability to recruit skilled chefs from outside the EU to work in the UK.

A spokeswoman for the sector said it contributed £30bn to the UK economy and the planned temporary limit would hinder economic recovery and growth.

The Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC), which represents the UK's £27bn private recruitment industry, also said it was concerned the cap would lead to greater skills shortages and would affect the delivery of social care in some areas.

'Tough but fair'
A spokesman for the Confederation of British Industry said the organisation would wait until an announcement by the home secretary on Monday before making any comment.

A spokesman for the Labour Party said they would wait until Monday to make a full response, but added: "It seems that senior Tories are also doubtful about the proposals.

"The tough Australian-style points system introduced by Labour has already had a big impact on bringing down migrant numbers and closed the door to unskilled workers from outside the EU.


Do we really want to have restrictions on foreign students at a time when the higher education sector is facing funding cuts and is going to rely on the fees that those students bring in?

Tim Finch

"We remain committed to an approach that will help our economy and which is tough but fair."

During the election campaign David Cameron said he wanted to reduce net annual migration - the number of immigrants minus the number emigrating from the UK - from hundreds of thousands to tens of thousands. The figure currently stands at 163,000.

The Liberal Democrats opposed a cap during the election campaign in May but signed up to the Tory idea as part of the coalition deal.

However they won agreement to end the detention of children in immigration centres.

Alp Mehmet, of MigrationWatchUK, said the introduction of a temporary limit was "a welcome sign that the government is starting as it means to continue".

He said: "We need carefully to consider how net immigration will be brought down to tens of thousands - we believe about 40,000 is a realistic target - rather than the hundreds of thousands of the last 10 years, and is therefore good news for all our people, including immigrants and future immigrants.

"Immigration at the levels of the past decade is in no-one's interest."

Language skills
Tory MP Peter Bottomley, a member of the cross-party campaign group, Balanced Migration, said the cap was needed.

"Clearly you need to have people you need. If for example, you have Canadian graduates with teaching diplomas, those are the sorts of people we need.

"For many others, we actually have 8% unemployment. It's not the employment thing that matters most to most people, the biggest thing is the effect on environment and on planning."

Tim Finch from the Institute of Public Policy Research, said the measures were just a stopgap and would have a detrimental affect on the higher education sector.

He added: "Do we really want to have restrictions on foreign students at a time when the higher education sector is facing funding cuts and is going to rely on the fees that those students bring in?"

The new government has also axed the national identity card scheme. It was brought in by Labour to tackle fraud, illegal immigration and identity theft but was often criticised for being too expensive and an infringement of civil liberties.

Ministers are also bringing forward to the autumn measures requiring many immigrants marrying UK citizens to prove they have a command of English.

The plans, which Labour had planned to introduce in July 2011, will apply to partners coming to the UK from areas outside the EU, such as South Asia.

About freaking time.

If you have nothing to hide, you most likely have nothing to worry about.

I just hope, these do not have unforseen effects though? Shortage of skilled worker perhaps, and cheap labour?

ElRazur:

About freaking time.

If you have nothing to hide, you most likely have nothing to worry about.

I just hope, these do not have unforseen effects though? Shortage of skilled worker perhaps, and cheap labour?

The bulk of migrants in the UK come from the EU who taq up just about any job to maq ends meet but the govt is reluctant to admit this.

ElRazur:

About freaking time.

If you have nothing to hide, you most likely have nothing to worry about.

I just hope, these do not have unforseen effects though? Shortage of skilled worker perhaps, and cheap labour?

Did you even read the post at all? Or as usual you just wanted to comment on an immigration topic ASAP.
They are talking about placing a cap on non-eu seeking a work permit and intending to come to the uk you are here blabbing about having nothing to hide. Nonsense.

snowdrops:

Did you even read the post at all? Or as usual you just wanted to comment on an immigration topic ASAP.
They are talking about placing a cap on non-eu seeking a work permit and intending to come to the uk you are here blabbing about having nothing to hide. Nonsense.

Actually I have been listening to it all day. Again, anything to control immigration in the UK is a good thing in my book. And yeah, anyone who have nothing to worry about won't get all hyper as per my comment.

cold:

The bulk of migrants in the UK come from the EU who taq up just about any job to maq ends meet but the govt is reluctant to admit this.

I agree.

The immigration system as it stands need reworking in my opinion. Anything that is remotely heading towards this view is good in my book.

ElRazur:

Actually I have been listening to it all day. Again, anything to control immigration in the UK is a good thing in my book. And yeah, anyone who have nothing to worry about won't get all hyper as per my comment.


I agree.

The immigration system as it stands need reworking in my opinion. Anything that is remotely heading towards this view is good in my book.

What's all this posturing for?Plz get off your high horse & make some sense.

This a good measure. The UK is full to breaking point and cannot cope with the amount of people already living here. As an Island, the UK is more populated than Canada which is 1000 times bigger than the UK. Methinks Africans and Asians looking to immigrate should try places like Canada or the US.

AngieFan:

This a good measure. The UK is full to breaking point and cannot cope with the amount of people already living here. As an Island, the UK is more populated than Canada which is 1000 times bigger than the UK. Methinks Africans and Asians looking to immigrate should try places like Canada or the US.

Let's see the statistics,don't just come here throwing numbers around.

cold:

What's all this posturing for?Plz get off your high horse & make some sense.

What is there that you do not understand?

I am of the belief that the current system sucks, and think this measure is a good one.

High horse?  

ElRazur:



What is there that you do not understand?

I am of the belief that the current system sucks, and think this measure is a good one.

High horse?  

The point i was tryin to maq is that the probem is not with the non-eu but the eu migrants

And what about the restrictions to foreign students, is that a welcome development too?

AngieFan:
Methinks Africans and Asians looking to immigrate should try places like Canada or the US.

Nah, negro! U crazy??!?! yAll better stay your aszzes in Europe, u come out here in droves we murking yall!

cold:

Let's see the statistics,don't just come here throwing numbers around.

Stats can be interpreted in many ways. How about this basic facts - Resources are limited and as such have to be effectively manage?  Just a thought.

Instead of getting worked up, care to tell us why this appears to strike a wrong cord with you?

cold:

The point i was tryin to maq is that the probem is not with the non-eu but the eu migrants

But who says to you my stance is against Non-Eu? My stance is against BOTH NON EU and EU.  


Please can we not make this personal.  

texazzpete:

And what about the restrictions to foreign students, is that a welcome development too?

Actually, it was mentioned in the news yesterday that English classes are getting less applicants from abroad now, and as such the Home office have promised to review the visa application process or something along those lines.

cold:

Let's see the statistics,don't just come here throwing numbers around.

UK Geography:
total: 243,610 sq km
country comparison to the world: 79
land: 241,930 sq km
water: 1,680 sq km
note: includes Rockall and Shetland Islands
Slightly smaller than Oregon state in the US
Population: 61,284,806 (July 2010 est.)

Canada Geography
total: 9,984,670 sq km
country comparison to the world: 2
land: 9,093,507 sq km
water: 891,163 sq km
Slightly larger than the US
Population: 33,759,742 (July 2010 est.)

Source: CIA factbook.


As previously stated, the UK is one of the smallest countries in the world and cannot cope with an influx of immigrants whether they be from EU or not and something drastic has to be done. One can easily fit 900,000 Great Britains into Canada yet Canada only has half the amount of people in it. Methinks immigrants would be better of immigrating to the US or Canada which is in dire need of people. People are a countries greatest asset but unfortunately the UK is at breaking point now and its services can no longer cope.

warever

If you have that kinky hair on your head, you are considered an immigrant! So if you are talking as if you are an oyinbo get off your high horse.

Thanks Denzel.

Imagine some coconuts wey God just help say them get papers self dey talk about capping immigration, mumu people.

MeThinks that they are going to loose out in the end. Majority of the nonEU immigrants are students, who believe it or not are the ones paying for their universities to stay afloat. I know how much I pay as school fees for my MSc here and less than 5% of my class is from the UK, we are mostly from outside (Naija sef too plenty for my class, I de vex )
While I agree with the fact that as an overpopulated island, it makes sense to limit the number of immigrants coming into the UK. But their problem is with the EU members that continuously flood the UK not with non EUs who are predominantly students,of which quite a number return back to their countries after studies.

nigerhead:

MeThinks that they are going to loose out in the end. Majority of the nonEU immigrants are students, who believe it or not are the ones paying for their universities to stay afloat. I know how much I pay as school fees for my MSc here and less than 5% of my class is from the UK, we are mostly from outside (Naija sef too plenty for my class, I de vex )
While I agree with the fact that as an overpopulated island, it makes sense to limit the number of immigrants coming into the UK. But their problem is with the EU members that continuously flood the UK not with non EUs who are predominantly students,of which quite a number return back to their countries after studies.

You've spoken sense!!!
Yes there is a huge problem with immigration both EU and Non Eu but capping non EU students, wrong move in the interest of the UK.
Non EU students predominently from AFrica and Asia are the ones that keep UK universities afloat for sure!!

They already put a capp on the number of students entering university which will make life harder so tell me in order to facilitate and continue with specialised departments where will the money come from if their capping International students, ?

Hmmm, me thinks they may not have realised the knock on effect this will have on the Universities who are under strain already,

^^ come on do you honestly think they are that daft, they have done the calculations

And only mushroom universities or should i say mushroom course will be under threat as most universities get their funding from industry or other grants

Majority of the nonEU immigrants are students

Majority of non-EU immigrants maybe be immigrants who entered AS students not necessarily stay on students. . .


_{its almost an insult for a country to try to 'protect' itself nowadays}

I wonder why Australia, Canada don't get the same criticism for having stringent immigration laws

Dis Guy:

^^ come on do you honestly think they are that daft, they have done the calculations

And only mushroom universities or should i say mushroom course will be under threat as most universities get their funding from industry or other grants

Majority of non-EU immigrants maybe be immigrants who entered AS students not necessarily stay on students. . .


_{its almost an insult for a country to try to 'protect' itself nowadays}

I wonder why Australia, Canada don't get the same criticism for having stringent immigration laws

They must not have done them too well because of the HUGE slash in the number of applicants able to go to university from now on,
Furthermore, funding from industries right now will be a biyatch due to the pressure they are under themselves, hence, the increased number of unemployment and redundencies, Grants will be reduced for sure,
To be frank, im not for both EU and non EU immigrants coming to the UK, im quite happy with it,
WHY?

Because they can be and are uaually a nuisance,
EU immigrants are either begging on the trains, streets or selling fake gold to you,
and Non EU (I am using nigerians as my example) will come in on so called 'student visa' and abuse the system,

Do mini cabbing, 419 or clean the underground all in the name of seeking so called greener pastures?

Hmm these are not good times and should serve as a wake up call to our leaders to set things right back home.

If you have that kinky hair on your head, you are considered an immigrant! So if you are talking as if you are an oyinbo get off your high horse.

more like if your grandma had kinky hair, even if yours is straight.

Methinks Africans and Asians looking to immigrate should try places like Canada or the US.

maybe Canada? The US isnt liking immigrants too much right now.

You must not be following the news.

Everyone is running away from the fire including myself (from the UK) and immigrants are running to it??
There been a higher number of people leaving the UK to go back home!!!
The wise ones!!

There were opportunities here once but that time has come and gone,

Unless your looking to come chop McDonalds and KFC, the UK has nothing else to show,

Lady Dee:

Everyone is running away from the fire including myself (from the UK) and immigrants are running to it??
There been a higher number of people leaving the UK to go back home!!!
The wise ones!!

T[b]here were opportunities here once but that time has come and gone, 
[/b]
Unless your looking to come chop McDonalds and KFC, the UK has nothing else to show,

I'll have to agree with you on that. From my own perspective, the Uk has nothin to offer apart from the high quality education it offers. I think they should adopt the canadian immigration system. Canadain immigration laws are very strict because they do not want an influx of high number immigrants who most of the time come there for greener pastures. They want high skilled workers who will also contribute to thier economy.
This i Believe is what the Uk is presently witnessing, so a cut in immigration would go a long way.

Well, the present coalition government in Britain is taking the right steps in addressing the country's immigration problem. Britain, especially England, is full of people. You need to take into account what is going on when you take the tube these days. The London Underground trains are packed to the brim with passengers and it is easy to get suffocated However, care should be taken to ensure that gifted immigrants are not denied the opportunity of coming to live and work in Britain. Personally, I will advise Nigerians who are seeking greener pastures to head to Canada and the United States. Though Canada needs people, the country's immigration process is tough and well regulated. I know people who were in Britain for years [ some were illegal ] who crossed over to Canada. They put the money they had earned in Britain [ By working really hard and juggling jobs ] to good use and applied to study in Canada. After getting to Canada, they changed their status after completing their studies [ Provincial nominee program ].

With the sad situation of things in Nigeria, I won't discourage Nigerians from travelling. Let them stay away from Britain and look towards Canada and the USA. Above all, I just hope Nigerian leaders will start thinking of the people they govern. Cheers.


www.vibes-extra..com

Let them stay away from Britain and look towards Canada and the USA

^^dont you mean Canada.

Immigration is a sensitive topic in the US these days.

the world all over these are hard times,not pretending to be an authority on who should be let into a country,how resources should be managed blah blah, because we all at one time were given a chance which other people are craving for,let the west be the one to have say on these matters!
About travelling to the US or Canada might work for some people but not all,manufacturing that used to employ the vast majority of new arrivals is a dead sector,cities like Detroit are turning out ghost towns, abandoned after the collapsing car industry,other manufacturers are moving industry to mexico,china and india for cheaper labor while the few that remain have wages cut by the influx of migrants from the all over! certainly this sector is dead end!

For professionals,one then has an opportunity in the jobs that can not be shipped out but are highly competitive since the born nationals are looking up to these same jobs,indeed they are so many professionals in N.America that are unemployed or under-employed! yes the world's economic systems are ever harder to maneuver!

For someone who has never lived over-seas its important to get the experience,learn the way of life,shake off the dreams of streets lined with honey,milk and gold and grapple with real life,even for those overseas, already out here,there is still opportunities and the slogan is "Never say Never",as long as one is not starving like happens back home one has the time to figure which trades work and how best to set one's self for opportunity.

For others the opportunities remain back home I know this worries many who are afraid to go back and tangle well it is a surprise to those struggling to live Africa hook or crook but many people after things got tough have gone back home,humbled themselves and positioned for success!
My point,one has to know what works for them, if you can crack it out here,you're in business, if you have contacts back home you might want to use those to seek a soft landing and hope to join the elite rich mismanaging our countries and remaining cold & indifferent to the social injustice, its just how it is

Lady Dee:

You've spoken sense!!!
Yes there is a huge problem with immigration both EU and Non Eu but capping non EU students, wrong move in the interest of the UK.
Non EU students predominently from AFrica and Asia are the ones that keep UK universities afloat for sure!!

They already put a capp on the number of students entering university which will make life harder so tell me in order to facilitate and continue with specialised departments where will the money come from if their capping International students, ?

Hmmm, me thinks they may not have realised the knock on effect this will have on the Universities who are under strain already, 

Overseas students are not the same as immigrants. Most genuine overseas students go home after studying, immigrants on the other hand normally want to work and live in the country long term with their families.

paddy_lo:

your maths a little off there sis. . .perhaps u mean 90 great Britains

Perhaps, but you get the point, right?

WELL WHAT CAN I SAY, IT ALL BOILS DOWN TO ECONOMY/POVERTY, UK IS GOING DOWN AND THEY ARE BEATING ABOUT THE BUSH , IF IT WAS IN THE OLDEN DAY,,,,, THIS IS THE TIME THEIR KING/QUEEN WILL SEND OUT HIS/HER PIRATES/ARMY/COLONIAL MASTERS WAY DOWN TO AFRICA AND TO NIGERIA EXPECIALLY, TO LOOT AND BRING BACK SOME TREASURE FOR SUSTAINANCE, THIS IS JUST THE BEGGINING OF YOUR DOWN FALL, THE ARABS WILL SOON PULL OUT THEIR MONEY FROM YOUR BANKS OR YOU ALLOW THEM ISLAMIZE YOUR CITY( THAT INCLUDES SHARIA AND REAPING OF HEADS), BUT OFFCOUSE THE LOOTED FUNDS FROM AFRICA AND MOSTLY NIGERIA MUST FIND ITS WAY BACK, THE WAGES OF SIN IS DEAD, THE EVIL DEEDS OF YOUR FOUDING FATHERS IS COMING BACK AT YOU ALL ITS PAY BACK TIME. NIGERIA IS STILL BATTLING WITH THE MESS YOU LEFT HIM WITH. BUT SOME OF UR CITIZENS WHO DIDNT KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT HISTORY IS BY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER LOOKING DOWN ON NIGERIA, WHEN THE TRUTH IS THAT NIGERIA MADE BRITAIN WHAT IT IS TODAY.

The U.K is partly to blame for the surge in immigration;

Free this ,free that for all those dead-beat somalians  who devise new ways of cheating the welfare system.
" OH, my wife and 8 kids in free schools have chucked me out of the free 5 bedroom house, can i have my own free house?, and then they rent it out to their illegal counterpart rats.
To the extent that illegal migrants who are already in france still risk their lives hiding inside tour bus engines to get here.
Having come from a desert, you would think that they will be willing to work when they get here but Nooo! ! they scrounge and their kids crowd the streets
fighting and stealing from shops. (the ba.st.ards stole my car)

Not only should immigration be capped reasonably, the welfare system should be re-assessed.
I cant be paying all that tax to have a rat mooching of it. scrounging rats.
(which they are going to do anyway.)
I trust the conservatives.