UK raises the minimum salary for foreigners with skilled work visas by 48%

The general wage criteria for individuals entering the UK on a skilled worker visa has been raised by the UK government from £26,200 to £38,700.

James Cleverly, the Home Secretary, claimed that in order to reduce immigration and prioritise British workers, the minimum wage was raised by 48%.

The current set of changes will reduce migration and stop firms seeking to hire cheap labour from abroad from undercutting British workers.

According to a statement posted on its website on Thursday, UK companies must now pay foreign employees who enter the country on a skilled worker visa substantially more.

It stated that the government will reduce the cost of foreign labour while still fulfilling its commitment to reduce net migration.

The UK government stated that this increase will assist guarantee that the UK’s immigration system concentrates on hiring highly skilled individuals, so helping to strengthen the UK economy while reducing overall numbers.

The government is clear that no industry should be chronically dependant on immigration, hence the shortage occupation list was removed today, and companies are no longer permitted to pay migrants less than UK workers in shortage occupations.

The competent and unbiased Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) advised the creation of a new immigration salary list (ISL).

Roles on the list will only be included if they are skilled and in short supply, and if it is reasonable to include them given the efforts made by sectors to invest in the local workforce.

Inclusion on the list must not contribute to lower wages or impair the recruitment of British workers. Employers are advised to prioritise training, skill development, and hiring domestic workers.

It comes as the government takes strong action to help British people find job, in one of the most significant employment interventions in a generation, with its £2.5 billion Back to job plan.

This will help break down barriers to work for over a million people who are long-term unemployed, long-term sick, or disabled.

Home Secretary James Cleverly said: “It’s time to turn off the taps and end the flow of cheap workers from abroad.

“Mass migration is unsustainable and it’s simply not fair. It undercuts the wages of hard-working people who are just trying to make ends meet.

“We are refocusing our immigration system to prioritise the brightest and best who have the skills our economy needs, while reducing overall numbers.

“I promised the British people an immigration system that serves their interests, and to bring numbers down – these tough measures deliver on that commitment. Employers must also play their part and put British workers first.”

While recounting the previous reforms to reduce migration, the UK said, “In January, the government ended the ability of nearly all postgraduate students to bring dependants to the UK.

“A drastic fall in student dependant applications is expected this year, with early indications already of this downward trend.

“Last month, reforms to restrict care workers from bringing family members came into force. An estimated 120,000 dependants accompanied 100,000 workers on the route in the year ending September 2023, who would now not be able to come.

“Care providers are also now required to register with the Care Quality Commission, the industry regulator, if they are sponsoring migrant care workers.

“This follows clear evidence that care workers have been offered visas under false pretences, having been recruited for jobs that don’t exist or being paid far below the minimum wage required for their work.

“The Home Secretary has also commissioned a review of the Graduate route for international students to prevent abuse, protect the integrity and quality of UK higher education, and ensure it works in the best interests of the UK.”

It added, “The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will review the demand for the Graduate route, through which a total of 213,250 visas have been granted since it was established, to ensure it is fit for purpose and focused on attracting the best and brightest to the UK.

“On 11 April, the first step in an incremental increase to the minimum income required for Family visas will come into force. By early 2025, this will have reached £38,700, helping to ensure dependants brought to the UK are supported financially.

“The government’s plan to tackle illegal migration is also working, with small boat crossings down by around a third last year. Illegal migration is an international challenge the government is tackling on all fronts, including working with international partners and clamping down on the criminal gangs with stepped-up enforcement.”