In attempt to reduce the flow of skilled non-EU migrants into the UK by 20% per year, Home Secretary Theresa May, has announced a new £1,000- a-year immigration skills levy, which is expected to be introduced on all firms that require skilled workers from outside the European Union.
As part of a package recommended by the government's migration advisory committee (MAC), PM Cameron had first suggested the skills levy. Recruitments of overseas teachers and nurses could be affected the most by this levy.
The MAC chairman, Prof David Metcalf stated, “Skilled migrant workers make important contributions to boosting productivity and public finances, but this should be balanced against their potential impact of the welfare on existing UK residents. Raising the cost of employing skilled migrants via higher pay thresholds and the introduction of an immigration skills charge should lead to a greater investment in UK employees and reduce the use of migrant labour.”
