QUESTIONS? CALL: 01582 262 070 (London & South) 0121 655 2400 (Midlands & North) info@morganwiseman.co.uk

Morgan Wiseman

  • About Us
  • Our Team
  • Services
  • Contact
  • News & Events
MAKE A REFERRAL
  • Home
  • Immigration
  • Unskilled Workers To Be Denied Visas, But What Does Unskilled Mean Anyway?
March 1, 2021

Unskilled Workers To Be Denied Visas, But What Does Unskilled Mean Anyway?

Unskilled Workers To Be Denied Visas, But What Does Unskilled Mean Anyway?

by Emily Norris / Wednesday, 19 February 2020 / Published in Immigration

Today it has been reported that under new plans by the government, migrants from the EU and beyond that are considered “unskilled” will not be entitled to visas into the UK. Employers are being encouraged to focus on keeping staff instead of hiring ‘cheap labour’ which from the view of job progression for UK citizens looks to be a plus. But will it create job security or leave employers wanting for staff leaving gaps in industries? 

 

A tweet on the subject from this morning read “I have a postgrad qualification. I have a mum with dementia in a care home. I could not do the “low skilled work” the carers show my mum & others in the unit. They are amazing people with a unique set of skills I cannot equal”. And she’s quite right, what quantifies low skilled work? And without anyone in the care industries or indeed, construction or surveying industries from abroad, can the British population fill the gaps the absence of workers will create?

 

Just because we have 1.29 million unemployed (as of December 2019) does not mean the gaps will be filled easily or that people want to do ‘low skilled’ work which can be construed as low paid. The difference is our unemployed want a livable wage. For people from low economy areas in the EU and beyond, our minimum wage is more than they’d expect in their own country. 

Rejecting migrant workers who work hard at jobs we in this country take for granted, for example, fruit pickers would be detrimental. Though the job can be seen as tiring, having an early start and long hours, it provides us with nutritious food and is carried out in a wide-open space with fresh air.  Unlike migrant workers, many would not see the benefit of working in this environment. And this is where the problem lies.

 

Particular sectors are taken for granted in this country and low paid doesn’t always mean low skilled. Fruit pickers aside, what about those who process food, prepare the food, cook the food?  None of these jobs are unskilled by any means. Let’s revisit that tweet mentioned previously. Would you know how to care for someone with Dementia or other cognitive disorders? Would you know how to cut an animal carcass to separate the best cuts of meat? Would you know how to sort the meat by its quality? By disqualifying people with these skills, surely money will be wasted on hiring the 1.29 million unemployed in these sectors and training them to have the skill of someone from the EU or otherwise with this knowledge already?

 

In any case, the new points system appears to leave a lot to be desired, considering 21% of EU migrants are in factory and construction industries despite there being a need for a £23,000 salary minimum to gain points. 

It can be argued that industries that pay workers minimum wage but are in high demand will struggle unless they increase their wage. In comparison, the point system states that a PHD is needed in a relevant field to the job or related to STEM, despite 9% of EU migrants being STEM professionals and 7% being STEM associate professionals which will generally be higher paid jobs but in less demand.

  • Tweet

About Emily Norris

What you can read next

Migration Advisory Committee recommends adding to shortage occupation list
Javid suggests post-Brexit migration salary rules could vary by region
UK falling behind in race to engage with India, warns UK Parliament Inquiry

Recent Posts

  • DCD Isn’t all of me

    Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) or Dy...
  • #Jamaica50 The Immigration Injustice Continues

    I recently wrote an article on the current situ...
  • Cyprus rape case: a miscarriage of justice as old as time

    When a woman is raped, why should it be the fir...
  • Migration: A human rights issue.

    Article three of the Universal Declaration of H...
  • Neurodiversity & Me: Navigating the workplace

    Employment isn’t easy for neurodiverse people f...

Archives

  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • August 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • July 2014

Categories

  • Children
  • Divorce
  • Domestic Abuse
  • Immigration

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Featured Posts

  • DCD Isn’t all of me

    0 comments
  • #Jamaica50 The Immigration Injustice Continues

    0 comments
  • Cyprus rape case: a miscarriage of justice as old as time

    0 comments
  • Migration: A human rights issue.

    0 comments
  • Neurodiversity & Me: Navigating the workplace

    0 comments

Make a referral

Please fill this form and we'll get a specialist in contact as soon as possible!

Referrer Details
Client Details

Privacy Policy

Legal Notices

  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Complaints Procedure
  • Enquiry Form Notice
  • GET SOCIAL
Morgan Wiseman

© 2019 All rights reserved.

Morgan Wiseman Solicitors Limited, company Registered in England and Wales Under Number 10731548. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority Registered office: 66-68 Alma Street, Luton, Bedfordshire LU1 2PL (SRA No: 638355). Branches: 1142 Warwick Road, Acocks Green, Birmingham, West Midlands B27 6BL (SRA No: 648071); 618-620 Bearwood Road, Smethwick, Birmingham, B66 4BW (SRA No: 661078). A list of Directors and their respective specialist accreditation is available for inspection at its registered office.

TOP
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled

Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.

Non-necessary

Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.