Patel tells bosses to train up Britons
THE Home Secretary has hit back at business critics of the Government’s newly announced immigration system, telling private sector chiefs it is “about time” they started training up Britons.
Industry leaders warned that changes to UK immigration rules could “spell absolute disaster” for the care system as well as farmers, builders and hospitality businesses.
But Priti Patel said industries relying on a migrant workforce should look closer to home when recruiting new employees.
“It is about time businesses started to invest in people in this country,” she said.
“We have over eight million people – that is 20% of the workforce – aged between 16 and 64 that are economically inactive right now. It is down to businesses to work well with the Government and join us in investing in people, levelling up across the UK so we can have wage growth across the entire country.”
The Cabinet minister said it was “ridiculous” to suggest the Home Office was putting the brakes entirely on businesses recruiting from abroad.
She said workers could come to the UK as long as they were sponsored by an employer and met the points-based criteria, including earning at least £25,600 in skilled professions, as part of changes that will come into force next year.
“If they have an employer and they meet the skills and points threshold, then of course they can come to the United Kingdom to work,” Ms Patel added.
“It is ridiculous to imply that we are just shutting down routes and that people can’t come into the UK.”
The changes are designed to cut the number of low-skilled migrants entering Britain but aim to make it easier for higherskilled workers to get UK visas.
A policy statement outlining a new points-based system after freedom of movement ends said the economy needs to move away from a reliance on “cheap labour from Europe”.
The salary threshold for skilled migrants will be lowered to £25,600 for those coming to the UK with a job offer, and there may be concessions for those earning no less than £20,480 as long as they still meet certain requirements or their occupation is short of staff.
The Confederation of British Industry warned that care, construction, hospitality and food and drink companies could be most affected by the changes.
Employers have until January 1 to meet the requirements and ensure their staff have a right to work in the UK.
People who want to live and work in the UK will need to gain 70 points to be eligible to apply for a visa. Points will be awarded for key requirements like being able to speak English to a certain level, having a job offer from an approved employer, and meeting a minimum salary threshold.
Labour said the system would need so many exemptions it would be “meaningless”.