Hope they don't do the same here:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jun/0 ... ed-workers
UK immigration cap on resettling skilled workers criticised
Business leaders warn home secretary of risk to economic recovery of creating a temporary workforce of skilled migrants
Business leaders have warned that government plans to create a temporary workforce of overseas skilled migrants will be "incredibly disruptive" to Britain's economic recovery.
The latest phase of the drive by the home secretary, Theresa May, to reduce net migration to Britain to below 100,000 a year includes taking away the right to settle in Britain from tens of thousands of skilled workers from outside Europe who have been in the country for five years.
Last year 84,00 skilled migrants were given the right to settle in Britain, but the immigration minister, Damian Green, said that in future only a "tightly controlled minority" of such migrants would be allowed to stay more than five years.
Ministers do, however, intend to make exceptions for the wealthy, with those earning more than £150,000 a year, plus elite athletes and ministers of religion, retaining an automatic route to settlement. Entrepreneurs and investors will also be exempt – those with more than £5m to invest will earn the right to stay in Britain after only three years.
The plan proposes capping the number of "exceptional talent" migrants – world leaders in science, arts and the humanities – who are allowed to stay in the UK permanently. The Home Office consultation paper published on Thursday also discloses that ministers are considering abolishing or restricting the route that allows wealthy families to bring overseas domestic staff, including nannies and cooks, to work in their private households. Restrictions would include limiting their stay and banning such workers from bringing family .
The home secretary said she wanted tier two of the points-based immigration system – which covers skilled workers from outside Europe – to be regarded in future as a temporary rather than permanent migration route.
"Reducing net migration is not just about reducing the numbers coming here; it is also about increasing the numbers who leave after their initial stay," she said. "Only tier one [the most highly skilled route] will give a pathway from entry to settlement for investors and entrepreneurs. We expect most tier two migrants will return home at the end of their stay."
Ministers hope the package will prevent those who arrive in Britain to fill a temporary labour shortage from applying to settle permanently. May said she would soon be publishing proposals to change the rules for those coming to Britain for family reasons, such as marriage.
But Dr Adam Marshall of the British Chambers of Commerce said the immigration system had to protect the economy as well as the borders.
"Turfing out valuable migrant workers who are turned down for settlement would be incredibly disruptive to companies of all sizes, and to the UK's economic recovery," he said. "These proposals could also deter some skilled workers from coming to the UK in the first place. The criteria for which migrants do get settlement rights must reflect business needs and the economy, as well as political considerations."
Habib Rahman, of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, warned the proposals would create a "guest workers" scheme in Britain.
"The guest workers will have a very restricted right to settle in the UK and will have fewer rights when they are here. It will open them up to exploitation and lead to a two-tier workforce in Britain.The restrictions on legitimate avenues to settle is bound to lead to increasing irregularity and overstaying."
Sir Andrew Green of MigrationWatch, which believes immigration levels are too high, said the plan would provide an incentive for employers to train British workers rather than take skilled foreign workers "off the shelf".