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U.K. points system comes into force

LONDON: The first stage of Britain’s controversial Australian-style points-based immigration system, which will restrict entry of foreign workers from outside the European Union only to high-skilled categories, came into force on Friday amid criticism from migrant groups.

The new rules, described as the “biggest shake-up” of the immigration regime in 45 years and to be introduced in stages over the coming months, will be a blow to hundreds of immigrants from the Indian subcontinent, who come to Britain every year to take low or unskilled jobs.

Henceforth, only those non-E.U. citizens who have the qualifications and skills that benefit Britain will be permitted to come in.

The system is designed to attract IT professionals, financial exporters and entrepreneurs seen as “key contributors” to British economy. All applicants would be judged on a sliding “points” scale to determine their eligibility. Those with higher skills and qualifications will earn more points — the number of points progressively declining for those with lesser skills and few qualifications.

English tests will be introduced for all immigrants, including their spouses. The latter would be eligible to work in Britain. Home Secretary Jacqui Smith said the system would ensure that only those with skills that Britain needed could come.

“Migrants benefit this country economically, contributing an estimated £6 billion to our national output, as well as socially and culturally and it is right that we have a system which is fair but firm, accessible but controlled,” she said. Immigration Minister Liam Byrne said the system had worked “extremely well in Australia”.

“We have studied that hard, we think it would work well in this country,” he told the BBC. He also announced penalties to deter employers from hiring illegal immigrants. The penalty would be upto £10,000 for each illegal worker.

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