New laws to cut migration and put British workers first are now in force. These changes aim to reduce migration and prevent employers from undercutting British workers by hiring cheap labor

from overseas.

UK businesses are now required to pay significantly more to overseas workers coming to the UK on a Skilled Worker visa. The government has increased the general salary threshold for Skilled Worker visa holders by 48%, from £26,200 to £38,700. This increase aims to attract high-skilled workers to the UK, supporting economic growth while reducing overall migration numbers.

To ensure that no sector becomes overly reliant on immigration, the shortage occupation list has been abolished. This means that employers can no longer pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations. Instead, a new immigration salary list (ISL) has been introduced, which includes only skilled and shortage roles. Employers are encouraged to invest in training and hiring domestic workers first, rather than relying on immigration.

These measures are part of the government's commitment to support British workers and reduce overall migration numbers. Home Secretary James Cleverly emphasized the importance of ending the flow of cheap labor from abroad, stating that mass migration undercuts the wages of hard-working British citizens. Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride highlighted the government's £2.5 billion Back to Work plan, aimed at supporting jobseekers and unlocking the potential of the British workforce.

The government has also implemented reforms to address unsustainable levels of legal arrivals in the UK. These include ending the ability of postgraduate students to bring dependents to the UK, restricting care workers from bringing family members, and reviewing the Graduate route for international students to prevent abuse.

Overall, these measures aim to prioritize British workers, support economic growth, and ensure the integrity of the UK's immigration system. Photo by Phil Whitehouse, Wikimedia commons.