|
The
government has confirmed that chefs from outside the EU will be
accepted to work in the UK under its new tier system, but has reduced
the number of foreign workers it will allow in to the country.
The shortage occupation list,
recommended by the Migration Advisory Committee in September, was
approved by the government recently, allowing restaurants and hotels
to employ chefs from outside the EU without applying through the
points system, but the number of migrants permitted to work in the UK
has been reduced by 200,000 to 800,000.
Border and Immigration minister
Phil Woolas said the new Australian-style points system was more
flexible and would allow the government to respond to business needs
easier. He also said the government would be investing in skills and
training for UK workers to ensure they could fill more jobs.
He said: "We have
recently made a number of funding deals with employers, worth
£630m over three years, to give them greater access to flexible,
bespoke training aimed at tackling skills shortages in their sectors.
The deals cover sectors such as catering, hospitality and construction."
The British Hospitality
Association and People 1st had campaigned for the move after 89 per
cent of catering establishments said withdrawing work permits from
non-EU workers would have a detrimental impact on their business.
To get in under Tier 2 skilled
foreign workers must have:
* English language skills;
* prospective earnings of more
than £24,000, or slightly less if they have a decent
qualification - or an offer of a job on the shortage list;
* enough money to support
themselves for the first month of their stay
Employers will also need to get a
sponsor licence to enable them to bring in migrant workers.
top
|
