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Jobs 'to be posted longer in UK' | Jobs 'to be posted longer in UK' |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Employers will have to advertise jobs to UK workers for at least a month before they can be offered overseas, the government has announced. | Employers will have to advertise jobs to UK workers for at least a month before they can be offered overseas, the government has announced. |
Home Secretary Alan Johnson said that from next year the legal minimum period to post vacancies on Jobcentre Plus would be doubled from two weeks. | Home Secretary Alan Johnson said that from next year the legal minimum period to post vacancies on Jobcentre Plus would be doubled from two weeks. |
He added that this meant non-EU workers could not be used as a "cheaper alternative" to those from the UK. | He added that this meant non-EU workers could not be used as a "cheaper alternative" to those from the UK. |
But the Tories said Labour was "overselling" the changes. | |
The number of overseas-born workers in the UK reached 3.8 million last year. | The number of overseas-born workers in the UK reached 3.8 million last year. |
In a speech, Mr Johnson said the government had accepted all the recommendations made recently by its Migration Advisory Committee. | In a speech, Mr Johnson said the government had accepted all the recommendations made recently by its Migration Advisory Committee. |
Longer qualification | Longer qualification |
He announced the minimum salary to allow someone from overseas to qualify as a skilled worker in the UK would rise from £17,000 to £20,000. | He announced the minimum salary to allow someone from overseas to qualify as a skilled worker in the UK would rise from £17,000 to £20,000. |
The minimum qualification period for non-EU workers transferring to a company's UK base would increase from six months to a year, Mr Johnson added. | The minimum qualification period for non-EU workers transferring to a company's UK base would increase from six months to a year, Mr Johnson added. |
The Home Office estimates that one in 10 of the non-EU workers given permits last year would be excluded under the new rules. | The Home Office estimates that one in 10 of the non-EU workers given permits last year would be excluded under the new rules. |
Mr Johnson said: "These changes will ensure that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce." | Mr Johnson said: "These changes will ensure that businesses can recruit the skilled foreign workers that the economy needs, but not at the expense of British workers, nor as a cheaper alternative to investing in the skills of the existing workforce." |
The UK introduced a points-based immigration system earlier this year. | The UK introduced a points-based immigration system earlier this year. |
Under this, employers can only recruit "skilled" workers from non-EU countries if they cannot fill a vacancy or the occupation is on a list of shortage occupations. | Under this, employers can only recruit "skilled" workers from non-EU countries if they cannot fill a vacancy or the occupation is on a list of shortage occupations. |
The Conservatives have called for an annual cap on non-EU migrants. | |
Shadow immigration minister Damian Green said: "The home secretary should stop overselling what are pretty minor changes. The idea that this would cut work permits by 10% is just a fantasy figure. | |
"The way to control work permits is to have an annual limit, which the government short-sightedly refuses to introduce." |
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