UK to implement points-based immigration system by end of the year

Priti Patel, the UK Home Secretary, is striving to implement an Australia-style points-based system by the end of this year. Boris Johnson, the Prime Minister, is also calling for an immigration system like Australia’s in the UK.

The UK seems to be keen to implement an Australia-style immigration system to coincide with the UK’s exit from the European Union. Ms Patel said that the UK needs to deliver change. Businesses in the country should be prepared for the end of the migration of low-skilled immigrants this year.

The UK needs to ensure that skilled and talented workers from around the world come to the UK. However, it is also imperative that the immigration of a large number of low-skilled workers to the UK be checked.

Interestingly, the UK’s Tier 2 Visa category already runs on a points-based system. Applicants need to score at least 40 points to qualify for the Visa.

The UK is yet to reveal how the new points-based system may look like. This has caused apprehensions among businesses in the UK about hiring foreign staff post-Brexit. The Govt. has not been very forthcoming about the immigration plans, but one thing is clear, the country will severely restrict low-skilled migrants.

PM Johnson commented about a points-based immigration system in the UK-Africa investment summit. He said that Africa should consider the UK an investment partner of choice. The UK will aim for fairness and equality; treating people from all countries as equal. Putting people before passports will help attract the best and the brightest from across the world.

Priti Patel’s push for an Australia-style immigration system has also met its fair share of criticism. Some believe that companies will need at least two years to adapt to the new system. Diane Abbott, Shadow Home Secretary, believes that it is a “reactionary policy” which could be detrimental to public services like the NHS and other private sectors.

The new points-based system would highly restrict the inflow of low-skilled workers. Mr Johnson said that low-skilled workers would only be allowed to enter the UK provided there is a specific labour shortage.

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