Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Employment lawLatest NewsEconomics, government & businessRecruitment & retentionSkills shortages

Points-based migration system makes work for employers

by Louisa Peacock 2 Jun 2008
by Louisa Peacock 2 Jun 2008

The points-based immigration system has created an overwhelming burden on employers, who are struggling to understand and comply with the rules, an education provider has warned.

Amanda Harris, head of HR at the Institute of Ismaili Studies, said the new law – introduced earlier this year to tighten immigration into the UK – was unclear and had added significantly to her team’s workload.

The new rules, which place the responsibility of organising entry clearance for migrant workers on the employer rather than the government, mean businesses face more administration and significantly higher penalties for failing to comply – up to £10,000 per illegal employee.

But Harris told Personnel Today : “There is a lack of clarity from the Home Office about some of the definitions they use in the new system. It is proving very difficult to get a definitive response because they’re having to interpret the guidance themselves. We’re trying to second-guess what they mean.”

Harris added that education providers, in particular, were struggling with the new system.

“If you run international courses here then of course you need to get entry clearance for the visiting lecturers. But we have to make sure they go home and we have to report them if they don’t. It’s a burden.”

The Home Office will audit the Institute to check it is complying with the new rules later this week. “But we’re being audited at the same time as we’re trying to figure the rules out,” Harris said.

Last month the Home Office published proposals to ensure visiting staff seek sponsorship from a third-party organisation and not from the university where they will be based.

But Universities UK, which represents higher education institutes, warned that the new rules would hit universities’ abilities to attract visiting international staff.

A Home Office spokeswoman said: “Our Australian-style points-based system replaces over 80 immigration routes with just five tiers. Employers helped us to design the sponsorship system that goes with it and we are confident it strikes the right balance between being user-friendly and providing the control we need.”

Allow time for work permits to be  issued, employers warned

Employers must factor in delays affecting work permit applications to the UK, a legal expert has warned.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

The caution comes after singer Liza Minnelli narrowly escaped being sent back to the US on her arrival at Heathrow last month because her work permit suffered processing delays at the UK Border Agency.

“Employers must ensure the application process is complete, and the work permit has been issued to the individual before they enter the UK,” said Nick Hobson, a solicitor at law firm Speechly Bircham.

Louisa Peacock

previous post
Absence management hindered by poor record-keeping systems
next post
Google hiring policy is key to its success as best place to work in UK

You may also like

Number of Neet women rises but figures fall...

23 May 2025

Bank holidays: six things employers need to know

23 May 2025

Unions ponder strike action after public sector pay...

23 May 2025

Personnel Today Awards 2025: Three weeks left to...

23 May 2025

Sighing in frustration at colleague was discriminatory, judge...

23 May 2025

Flexible working for teachers initiative extended

23 May 2025

Fire and rehire: the relocation question

22 May 2025

Public sector workers gain pay rises of up...

22 May 2025

Six ways to kickstart conversations about team stress...

22 May 2025

UK net migration slashed by half in one...

22 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+