Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+

Employment lawImmigration

Immigration changes could lead to skills exodus in UK, experts warn

by Kat Baker 9 Apr 2010
by Kat Baker 9 Apr 2010

Changes to the points-based immigration system amount to “exploitation” of migrant workers and could lead to a future skills exodus in the UK, experts have warned.


The adjustments, which came into effect this week, mean skilled migrants seeking to transfer between countries and work at their company’s British offices will no longer be able to accrue time in the UK to contribute towards their right to stay here permanently.


Industry experts warned the change to the intra-company transfer route (ICT) could put migrants off applying to work in the UK, as time spent here will not count towards the five years required to apply for permanent residence. It will also mean those that do come may have to leave after five years, according to Samar Shams, an immigration associate at law firm Lewis Silkin.


She told Personnel Today: “In five years’ time we could be losing a lot of really highly skilled useful workers that have spent five years here increasing in seniority and developing their careers. Skilled workers that the UK economy relies on could move back to their home countries whereas otherwise they might have stayed and contributed.”


Amit Kapadia, executive director of campaign group the Highly Skilled Migrant Programme Forum, said the changes amounted to “exploitation” of migrants, and would be a “drawback for employers” bringing in overseas staff.


According to the Professional Contractors’ Group (PCG) there are about 30,000 IT workers, mainly from India, who have entered the UK on ICT permits, but staff in professional services and law firms also rely on the transfer system.


Gerwyn Davies, public policy adviser at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, said the changes “should not undermine our ability to attract the brightest and best talent from abroad”, as most ICT workers did not intend to stay in the UK indefinitely.


However, Karen Macpherson, an employment partner at law firm DLA Piper, said the move could encourage employers to recruit more British workers for available jobs. “[Employers] will need to think more carefully about how they fill long-term labour needs and whether that’s a question of looking more locally,” she said.


The Home Office was unavailable for comment.

Avatar
Kat Baker

previous post
Research round-up
next post
First ScotRail staff to stage four-day strike next week

You may also like

Steep rise in visas for non-EU migrant workers

19 May 2022

One in five employers planning ‘no jab no...

19 May 2022

Nurses leaving due to pressure and workplace culture

18 May 2022

How firms need to comply with sponsor licence...

16 May 2022

MP demands timeline on carer’s leave legislation

13 May 2022

Fears over skills as visa application times double...

12 May 2022

Queen’s Speech: absence of employment bill leaves organisations...

10 May 2022

Queen’s Speech: Exclusivity contracts for low-paid workers to...

9 May 2022

MP seeks legal protections for employees undergoing fertility...

9 May 2022

PwC staff to benefit from extended summer hours...

5 May 2022
  • Apprenticeships are the solution to your recruitment problems PROMOTED | Apprenticeships have the pulling power...Read more
  • What it really means to be mentally fit PROMOTED | What is mental fitness...Read more
  • How music can help to ease anxiety at work PROMOTED | A lot has happened since March 2020, hasn’t it?...Read more
  • Why now is the time to plug the unhealthy gap PROMOTED | We’ve all heard the term ‘health is wealth’...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 2022

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2022 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
    • Advertise
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • 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
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • Maternity & Paternity
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
    • OHW Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • XpertHR
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Pricing
    • Free trial
    • Subscribe
    • XpertHR USA
  • Webinars
  • OHW+