United Kingdom: Restrictive Salary Changes in Effect on April 4, 2024
April 4, 2024
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At a Glance
- As of today, April 4, 2024, minimum salaries under the Skilled Worker Route have increased; the Shortage Occupation List has been replaced by the Immigration Salary List; and sponsored workers can now perform a wider range of work outside their sponsored work.
- These changes – many of which make it more difficult and more expensive to attract and retain foreign talent – are part of a broader policy package which seeks to reduce net migration to the United Kingdom.
The situation
As of today, April 4, 2024, minimum salaries under the Skilled Worker Route have increased; the Shortage Occupation List has been replaced by the Immigration Salary List; and sponsored workers can now perform a wider range of work outside their sponsored work.
An in-depth analysis of these changes can be found here.
Background
These and other changes (including the recently introduced prohibitions on the entry of care workers’ dependents and the requirements for sponsors of care workers to have Care Quality Commission registration) align with the five-point plan announced in December 2023 to reduce net migration to the United Kingdom.
Looking ahead
These changes are likely to increase the cost of obtaining foreign workers under the work routes. The government believes this will encourage employers, among other stakeholders, to increase training and investment in local populations to fill such gaps. Businesses should carry out a holistic review of their immigration programmes to ensure talent pipelines remain fit for purpose and assess alternate pathways to ensure minimum disruption to business objectives given these changes.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
