NEW immigration controls detailed today would have prevented 20,000 foreign workers taking jobs in Britain last year, the Home Office said.
The restrictions form part of the Government's point-based immigration system, being introduced this year to ensure only those with skills the country needs are allowed in.
They will apply to "skilled" workers from this autumn and follow new rules already announced to apply to "highly skilled" migrants. Those for students will follow later.
Firms must show they cannot find British workers to do the job and would-be immigrants will have to show the work is skilled, they speak good English and earn over £24,000 or are well qualified.
Home Office analysis suggested 12% of non-European migrants who arrived last year under the existing work permit scheme would have been refused - around 8,000 individuals.
Even more would have been kept out under tougher rules applied to groups such as sportspeople, performers and charity workers wanting to come to the UK on a temporary basis.
They will not apply however, to those coming for one-off events such as the Edinburgh Festival or to compete in the 2012 Olympic Games in London.
Immigration minister Liam Byrne said: "Our new points system means that British jobseekers get the first crack of the whip and that only the skilled migrants we actually need will be able to come.
"By moving points up or down, we can make sure the numbers we allow into the UK are in line with the needs of business and the country as a whole.
"When we set the points pass mark, we will listen to independent advice - the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) on the needs of the economy, and the Migration Impacts Forum (MIF) on the effect of migration on society."
The Home Office also claimed success in a clampdown on illegal working.
Mr Byrne said: "In 2007 we carried out 40% more illegal working operations than the previous year - and frontline officers have new powers to levy on-the-spot fines.
"These fines make up just one part of the biggest shake-up of the immigration system for a generation.
"With the introduction of compulsory identity cards for foreign nationals later in the year, there can be no excuse for not checking the identity of those applying for jobs."
What do you think? Have your say.
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Roger Jones's P45 (formerly MC Spanner) (06/05/2008 at 15:02)
It's not temporary workers or skilled workers that are the issue in the UK.
8000 skilled workers kept out - Not the issue.
It's those who have settled illegally. Those who cannot be deported. Those who commit crimes and then are free to Rome the street. Those coming as Health Tourists.
The new points system will actually let more people in because people who would not have come before now have an easy system to apply through and be guaranteed entry.
Everybody around the world with an MBA can come. Graduates above certain income levels are free to enter. Employers will skim places is Asia, Africa and S America to bring in cheaper Labour.
Don't be fooled that the Government care. They don'
Jimc (06/05/2008 at 15:20)
YEE HI SPIN ON THE FLOOR.
alvinlwh (06/05/2008 at 16:37)
Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (06/05/2008 at 17:20)
OMG!!! Dear Lord!!
Im going to overlook this and think that what you meant was 'freeloaders like illegal immigrants' and not people running from state oppression.
Bigkecks (06/05/2008 at 18:28)
But it's a start....
At least somthing is happening to protect even a small slice of Britain from a downward spiral of 'Ethinic interaction' gone mad.....
ace, manchester (06/05/2008 at 20:27)
David,North M/C (06/05/2008 at 20:54)
alvinlwh (07/05/2008 at 09:30)
Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (07/05/2008 at 10:39)
Asylum seekers/refugees who are genuine will be and should be allowed to stay here, Im sure if you were running from a war that you would want a safe country to go to.
The problem is that you are both so hateful and xenophobic that you believe every immigrant must be illegal and I quote 'want to blow things up'.
And David I have said to you before, I love this country, you clearly do not, why dont you leave and go to a place you do love. Only problem is you will find that most places also have immigrants (illegal ones too), and Im sure you'll find something to moan about once you are there too.
Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (07/05/2008 at 10:42)
Who said I was a Labour voter? I didnt vote for them. So what's your misinformed point?
Roger Jones's P45 (formerly MC Spanner) (07/05/2008 at 11:35)
C-o-C - You are probably right about the hatefulness and Xenophobia but a valid point has been raised.
We do provide a safe haven to a number of people escaping from despotic and undemocratic regimes. Some of them are escaping countires like Libya, Algeria, Jordan, Egypt etc who do not agree with their "extremist" views. If they were returned to these countries they may be killed or tortured. BUT some of these extremist then start pedalling their hate over here. Abu Qattada & Omar Bakri Mohammed being two of the most prominent.
The country must stop letting people in who hold these views, especially if under the Human Rights Act, we end up having to keep them here after they have commited criminal acts.
Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (07/05/2008 at 11:41)
Good point.
ace, manchester (07/05/2008 at 11:42)
Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (07/05/2008 at 11:45)
You've asked the head of these African countries then Ace?
justhuman, Manchester (07/05/2008 at 12:36)
How many is "lots of these asylem seekers"? Do you know their names, the countries they come from, which family they have brought over, why they came here? Have you even talked to any of them?
Or do you, like most people who comment on asylum and immigration, prefer to believe everything you read in the Mail, Sun and Express?
The process for bringing over dependents is far from easy, and is getting harder all the time. I know from personal experience, having tried to help a lady with Leave to Remain bring over her only surviving daughter. She is now here, and the Home office are telling her to go back to Angola, where she has no living relatives and no home. That's the reality, not the junk you read in the tabloids.
alvinlwh (07/05/2008 at 15:24)
ace, manchester (07/05/2008 at 15:47)
You are just like the rest of our liberal thinking people who has caused most of these problems.Ive known people from asian countries wanting their wives to be to come to britain because they love them so much? and yet they wont go to live in the asian countries? surely if these people loved each other so much any country would be ok? But its the same old story "Britain gives them everything on a plate" .
Roger Jones's P45 (formerly MC Spanner) (07/05/2008 at 15:50)
If you were any more ignorant you would be called Anthony from Accrington,
-7/7 Bombers-
Hasib Hussain was born in Leeds General Infirmary and raised in Holbeck
Shehzad Tanweer was born in St Luke's maternity Hospital, Bradford
Mohammad Sidique Khan was born in St James's University Hospital, Leeds, he grew up in Beeston.
Germaine Lindsay was born in Jamaica, and had lived in Dalton, Huddersfield, following his arrival from Jamaica at aged five.
One would assume that rather than being refugees or asylum seekers, they are the offspring of regular immigrants who came here to work.
Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (07/05/2008 at 16:17)
You say that they (Im assuming you mean immigrants) dont go to other countries. Have you ever been to other countries Ace? And I dont mean two weeks in Benidorm. France, Germany, Spain, Portugal etc, In fact most of Europe have immigrants. Its amazing how you always single out Britain as being the worst.
ace, manchester (07/05/2008 at 16:52)
David,North M/C (07/05/2008 at 17:41)
jomov, Manchester (07/05/2008 at 18:49)
It's ok bringing in this point system now but why wasn't this brought in years ago?
It's not new!
Come-On-City. Manchester, formerly of Brooklyn. (07/05/2008 at 21:11)
So you dont respect the rules and everything else in the UK?