by Pamela Readhead
Government plans to introduce a new points-based immigration system were debated yesterday (6 July) at the annual conference of COMPAS, the ESRC's Oxford-based Centre on Migration, Policy and Society.
The new plans aim to replace the current complex system of 80 different permits and entry schemes with a single 'points-based' system that will restrict entry to those whose skills will benefit the UK.
This week the Government announced that thousands of nurses from abroad are to be banned from working in the UK, following a survey which found that only 20 per cent of nurses graduating this summer have found jobs. Last year 12,670 overseas nurses came to work in Britain, with the largest contingent coming from India.
Migrants now make up over 12 per cent of the workforce in high-income countries, and are employed across a range of occupations - from medicine to low-skilled jobs, such as cleaning and hospitality, that are often shunned by local workers.
While employer representatives at the Oxford conference were generally in favour of simplifying the existing system, some argued that it would be difficult to find EU migrants to do low-skilled jobs in sectors such as food processing.
The planned new system includes a category of low-skilled jobs that could, theoretically, be filled by workers from non-EU countries, if these had a low uptake among UK or EU citizens. However, Dr Martin Ruhs, a senior labour market economist at COMPAS, says that this requires closer scrutiny.
He argues: "We need to look more closely at why employers need migrant workers for these jobs. In some sectors and occupations we need to ask whether low-paid jobs that are only acceptable to migrant workers should exist at all in this country".
Migrants now make up over 12 per cent of the workforce in high-income countries...
Dr Ruhs told the conference yesterday that illegal immigration and employment of migrants had become one of the key public policy issues in the UK, but that discussions about 'illegal' employment of migrant workers often failed to distinguish between people who were illegal residents and those who were working illegally.
He said: "There is little talk about the situation of migrants who are residing legally but working in violation of the employment restrictions attached to their immigration status. Our research (PDF, 48.2Kb) has shown that such migrants - and their employers - often see themselves as bending rather than breaking immigration rules".
Some NGOs claim that the new points system will increase exploitation and human trafficking. Viviane Abayomi, a migrant worker who is an active management committee member of the charity, Kalayaan, told the conference that the new rules would make it more difficult for workers to leave employers.
Replying to this, a Home Office representative said that workers would be free to move but would have to go through the skills assessment process each time.
The current debate over immigration policy has highlighted differences between Scotland and the rest of the UK. Unlike other parts of the UK, Scotland's population is declining, and its need for highly-skilled workers has been reflected in the Scottish Executive's attitude to workers from abroad.
The Fresh Talent initiative, which was introduced last year, aims to attract highly-skilled and qualified people from abroad to live, work and study in Scotland. Already, almost 600 overseas students have successfully applied to have their visas extended for a further two years under the scheme.
A recent report found that Scotland is attracting more highly-qualified migrants than anywhere else in the UK. Commenting on the report, Scotland's First Minister, Jack McConnell said, "When it comes to attracting the world's brightest and best, Scotland's door is open".
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has said the report's findings further underline the need for Scotland to be able to take an independent line on issues, and it argues that what it describes as Westminster's "'kick them out' immigration agenda" is inappropriate for Scotland.