Permits Foundation applauds UK government decision to retain Tier 2 dependent working rights
24 March 2016The UK government today issued a statement that ‘there will be no change to the work rights of dependants of Tier 2 migrants’ while announcing a series of reforms to the Points Based System for skilled workers, following a review by the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) commissioned last year. Permits Foundation applauds this decision, which follows our call for the right to be retained.
In response to the review last year – Permits Foundation carried out an extensive survey of Tier 2 employees and their partners to gather opinions and data regarding the economic and social impacts of this decision. Over 1,000 Tier 2 visa holders responded – over half of whom also had partners working in the UK. The survey showed that the right of dependents to work was a key factor in attracting these highly skilled workers. In fact, the large majority of respondents (77%) said they would have been unlikely to accept their current assignment if their partner did not have the right to work in the UK.
New measures announced today include an increase in the minimum salary threshold to GBP 30,000 per annum for experienced workers. For all intra-company transferees, there will be a minimum salary of GBP 41,500, with an exception for graduate trainees where the threshold salary will be reduced to GBP 23,000. An immigration skills charge will also be charged to employers for each employee who is sponsored.
So while it is good news that dependants will continue to be able to work, employers will be hit by higher costs of bringing skilled workers to the UK.
Further information:
Read the full statement from the Minister of State for Immigration, James Brokenshire.
Read the response of the CBI to Minister’s statement.
Read the full report, summary and press release of the Migration Advisory Committee.
Read our submission to the MAC with an in depth report of our 2015 survey of dependants in the UK.
Read more about our survey including a wide range of comments from those who took part.
More information on other countries that allow family members to work.
