UK may be planning to hike minimum-wage requirement for foreign workers
UK government may be planning to enforce a rule which would require foreign workers to be paid a salary exceeding £30,000 to come to Britain. The reform plans, currently under consideration, are expected to be officially outlined this week as part of the ongoing efforts to reduce net migration levels, according to a report in The Telegraph.
Currently, workers outside shortage occupations require a minimum salary of £26,200 to take up jobs in the UK—a figure notably below the median wage of £33,000.
The proposed adjustment, yet to be finalized, underscores the government's intent to address concerns surrounding immigration levels, particularly in skilled worker categories.
Think you check all the immigration boxes? Find out
This week's net migration data for the year ending June 2023 is anticipated to reveal levels hovering around 500,000, a figure that remains significantly higher than pre-Brexit levels. The surge, driven by factors such as increasing emigration, the return of overseas students, and a decline in the number of Ukrainian refugees and Hong Kongers, has outpaced the government's 2019 manifesto pledge to reduce overall net migration.
The push for migration reforms has been championed by figures within the government, including Robert Jenrick, the Immigration Minister, who recently expressed concern about the perceived failure to fulfill promises of controlled migration.
