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01/03/2008 Under the new system applicants will need sufficient points to qualify for entry to the UK to train, study or work. Points are awarded for the level of skill and training the applicant has and is tiered into 5 levels, Tier 1 for Highly skilled migrants, including entrepreneurs down to Tier 5 which is Youth Mobility and Temporary workers. The new legislation will create age and racial discrimination and affect all the people outside the EU who have not had access to higher education but who want to work hard and contribute to the country they will settle in. In 2006 migrant workers contributed £6 billion to Britain’s economy. The select committee on Human Rights estimates that 45,000 skilled migrant workers will be forced out of the Country under the new scheme. The worst excesses of the scheme are: All changes apply retrospectively, so workers who came to Britain under one set of regulations now face the new more complicated and difficult legislation. Victor Abegunde gave up everything to come to Britain. He quit a 10 year career in financial services in Nigeria and sold his house and car when he was accepted on to the Highly Skilled Migrants Programme. He was told he'd be able to settle in Britain with his family. But now the rules have changed - and he has to leave. He is taking the government to an immigration tribunal but if he looses – he looses everything. Fingerprinting of Migrants - Every person in the World coming to the UK on a Visa has their finger prints taken and checked against "watch-lists" - if they are on the list for the wrong reason they will be denied a visa and can not apply to come again for 10 years. Companies will have to act as sponsors and will be made to pay a fee of £1,000 to get a licence - they then will be responsible for a mountain of red tape and can face heavy fines if the process goes wrong. It will deter many companies from getting involved and only the large corporations with employment lawyers and HR managers will feel confident to enter into the process. The Condition of residence has gone up from four to five years - this probationary period during which the migrant worker is not considered a resident, means they have no access to benefits such as job seekers allowance and income support. As workers will have no safety net to catch them if they are made redundant or temporarily out of work, they will be forced on the black market by unscrupulous employers who will exploit them by paying less than the minimum wage. The costs of visas have increased across the board. A temporary work permit has gone up to £200 from £85.00. To enter the US on a temporary costs $45.00. Even visiting performing arts groups are subject to these visas – so any group with 50 performers and technicians will now have to pay £10,000 to come and tour the UK for a week. Tens of thousands of Highly Skilled Migrant workers already suffer when they come to Britain – they come as Highly skilled migrants encouraged to grow the British economy and get treated as illegal immigrants. 30,000 Indians have claimed unfair discrimination at the hands of the British Government and the HSMP Forum accused Brown of having a highly dictatorial approach towards immigrants and 90% claim they face deportation. The TUC has issued a statement saying that it commits to: *
Provide migrant workers with information about their legal rights We support the TUC's commitment and the work of unions involved with migrant workers. Respect Renewal is calling for a complete review of immigration and asylum law with an immigration system based on humanity and equality, an end to criminalization of immigrants and the rights of asylum seekers to work during their claiming. End the racism and defend the right to work! Lucinda
Lavelle
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