Damian Green, Immigration Minister Says Highly Skilled Migrants Should Do Highly Skilled Jobs

28 Oct 2010

As per a study published by UK Border Agency, the jobs being done by some migrants who are in the UK under Tier 1 of the points-based system are being employed in lower-skilled jobs such as shop assistants and supermarket cashiers.

Immigration Minister Damian Green said: 'While it is important that low-skilled jobs are filled, there are hundreds of thousands of British people who could be doing them instead of a migrant.

'Those coming into the UK under the highly skilled migrant route should only be able to do highly skilled jobs - it should not be used as a means to enter the low-skilled jobs market.

'Investors and entrepreneurs aside, this report questions the value of this route into the UK, and the findings will play a key part in discussions on how the annual limit will be shaped.'

Tier 1 visas are issued to applicants without any job offers in UK and who meet the correct criteria basing on factors like qualifications, previous earnings, age etc.

The report's findings come in advance of the government's announcement on the new permanent annual limit arrangements, including that will be included in the limit and at what level it will be set.