MAC’s Recommendation For A New Pay Threshold
Dt - 05/11/11
HSMP Forum's Press Release
A new salary threshold may be
proposed for migrants applying for Indefinite Leave to Remain (permanent
settlement) in the UK if the
government decides to act on the Migration Advisory Committee’s report.
The Migration Advisory Committee report says “To ensure greater
differentiation in the selection decision, we suggest implementing a
minimum annual pay threshold. This could reasonably be between £31,000
and £49,000 per year.”
The current
criterion for ILR is to show the salary drawn at the time of applying
for previous extension. Now it is likely to be changed to a pay bracket
ranging from £31,000 to £49,000.
However, MAC Chief
David Metcalf states that some exceptions should be made in the public
sector jobs“which will contribute to future economic growth”.
Nurses, for
instances are in short supply and may not be able to fulfil the income
criteria and hence should be made an exception. Even a teacher may be on
a similar salary scale and may not be able to show substantial earnings.
Does that mean that the teacher has no right to settlement or “does not
contribute to future economic growth”? The whole idea of introducing
such an income criteria is a blatant mockery of the system. The MAC
committee very conveniently ignores the private sector and when there
are deliberations about privatising many public services, such a rule
will only create a skills shortage in many areas similar to nurses in
the country and will cause a significant impact in the already unstable
market.
Amit Kapadia,
Executive Director of HSMP Forum
said “This is nothing but victimisation of migrants. After letting them
stay on for five years and profiting from their taxes, the government
cannot impose a new criteria to evict them from the country after they
have invested their time and earnings into building a life in the UK,
and contributed towards the UK economy."
“The HSMP forum
believes that introducing the income criterion is a major flaw and will
not yield any results. It will only create more problems and insecurity
for the already troubled migrants, who are hanging to their stability by
a thread due to constant immigration changes. Introducing a rule and
then adding exception to it shows the shallowness of the system and the
lack of clarity behind such an action.”
“We vehemently
oppose these changes. The government is constantly victimising migrants
and treating them like a punching bag to score their political points. A
migrant who is good to come here, pay taxes and contribute to the UK
economy, is the best and the brightest and should not be forced out from
the UK when she seeks settlement. This is exploitation of the highest
order. This is not good for the UK economy and UK’s image in the long
run.”
Notes for editors:
Website–
www.hsmpforum.org
/
www.hsmpforumltd.com
Contact Person –Amit Kapadia, email - info@hsmpforum.org / amit@hsmpforumltd.com
Contact Person –Amit Kapadia, email - info@hsmpforum.org / amit@hsmpforumltd.com
"HSMP Forum" is a
not-for-profit organisation and bears its origins to
the UK's Highly Skilled Migrant Programme, which was introduced in 2002.
It was formed
after the 2006 decision by Government to apply new qualifying criteria
for existing Highly Skilled Migrants. "HSMP Forum" has been lobbying the
legislature, executive and the judiciary by challenging unfair policies
to Skilled Migrants to work and settle in the UK. The organisation's aim
is to support and assist migrants under the world-renowned British
principles of fair play, equality and justice and believes in
challenging any unfair policies, which undermine the migrants’
interests.
Web Links: