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Bloomberg
Boris Johnson’s government unveiled plans to end what it called the UK’s dependence on “cheap low-skilled labour†and deliver on its pledge to halt freedom of movement from the European Union after Brexit.
Under a points-based immigration system to come into effect on January 1, 2021, workers must prove they can speak English, have a verified job offer and meet a points threshold based on their specific skills, qualifications and prospective salaries, according to a government policy paper.
The system will “bring overall migration numbers down†while attracting “the brightest and the best from around the globe,†Home Secretary Priti Patel told LBC radio. The aim is to “end our reliance on low-skilled workers that are obviously — more often than not — low paid,†she said.
Johnson has repeatedly said voters opted for Brexit at least in part to control immigration, but the plans triggered immediate warnings from businesses about the impact of anticipated worker shortages. A government advisory group estimated that 70% of EU workers already in the UK wouldn’t have qualified for visas under the new rules.