FACILITIES MANAGEMENT JOURNAL JOBS
FM CAREERS - RECRUITMENT
LOW SKILLS POINT Employers will need to adjust said the government
The UK Government’s disclosure of its plan
for a new ‘firm and fair’ Points-Based
Immigration System will have disappointed
employers who struggle to recruit into lower skilled
roles. The policy statement sets out the plan to
attract highly skilled workers who contribute to the
UK economy, communities and public services once
free-movement in the EU ends.
From 1 January 2021, EU and non-EU citizens
will be treated equally. Top priority will be given
to those with the highest skills and the greatest
talents, for example engineers, scientists and
academics. A general low-skilled or temporary work
route will not be introduced causing much concern.
The Government intends instead to shi the UK
economy away from a reliance on cheaper
labour from Europe. “Employers will need to adjust”,
it says.
The decision not to implement a route for lowerskilled
workers to gain easy access to the UK has
been based on several factors. A er considering
recommendations from its expert advisers, the
Migration Advisory
Committee (MAC),
the Government
believes it is important
that employers
move away from a
reliance on the UK’s
immigration system
as an alternative to
investment in sta
retention, productivity
and wider investment
in technology and
automation. It has been
made clear though that
the Government wants
EU citizens already in the UK to stay and to continue
to make significant contributions to the UK by using
the EU Settlement Scheme. It believes that many of
those workers work in lower-skilled roles already.
The Settlement Scheme for EU citizens , which
opened in March 2019, has received 3.2 million
applications so far. The Government hopes that
by encouraging those individuals who are already
working here to apply to stay and work, will address
the concerns that have been expressed about the
insu icient supply of labour.
Under the new Points-Based system, all applicants
will need a total of 70 points to be eligible to apply
for a visa. There are three essential requirements
which must be met. This means that if the
applicant has an approved job o er which is at the
appropriate skill level, they speak English and the
salary is £25,600 or above, the individual would be
eligible to make a visa application.
However, if they earn less than £25,600, but no
less than £20,480, the individual may still be able
to apply if they can find the points from another
characteristic. A minimum salary of £20,480 is
required in order to be able to apply for a visa. For
example, a University researcher in a STEM subject
wishing to come to the UK on a salary of £22,000,
(which is below the general minimum salary
threshold) may still be able to enter the UK if they
have a relevant PhD in a STEM subject.
Those seeking to live and work in the UK will now
need to be qualified only up to A level or equivalent,
rather than degree level under the current system.
This should provide access to a wider pool of skilled
workers for employers in the UK.
The MAC will be responsible for producing a
shortage occupation list which will be kept under
regular review. Certain sectors have already been
identified as falling into the shortage category. For
example, a nurse wishing to come to the UK on a
salary of £22,000 would still be able to enter the
UK on the basis that they would be working in a
shortage occupation, provided it continues to be
designated in shortage by the MAC.
The UK Government has stated that this is just the
first stage in their plans for a points-based system
and that the Home O ice will continue to refine
the system as time goes on. It is wary though about
making the system too complex.
In terms of next steps for employers, those not
currently approved by the Home O ice to be a
sponsor should consider doing so now if they want
to sponsor skilled migrants from early 2021.
Home Secretary Priti Patel said this is “a historic
moment for the whole country. We’re ending free
movement and taking back control of our borders”.
She added that businesses could also recruit
from among eight million "economically inactive"
potential workers in the UK.
However with the current majority in Parliament,
things are unlikely to change dramatically. The
Points-Based system is here to stay.
when it announced the introduction to a UK’s
Points-Based Immigration System, which could
restrict the supply of low skilled labour, many of which work
in the FM sector . Pam Loch, Solicitor and Managing Director
of Loch Associates Group explains the changes
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Proposed points system
Mandatory requirements Points
Job o er from an approved sponsor 20
Job is at the required skill level 20
English at required level 10
Points for salary Points
Salary of £20,480 - £23,039 0
Salary of £23,040 - £25,599 10
Salary of £25,600 or above 20
Additional points Points
PHD in a subject relevant to the job 10
PHD in relevant STEM subject 20
Job in a shortage occupation 20
56 MARCH 2020
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