The latest news from TeamHR

The latest HR and employment news from TeamHR. Breaking news stories are added every week to help keep you and your business up to date with the latest breaking news in employment, employment law, personnel management and HR.

Immigrant Workers - changes from 29th Feb 2008

Major changes are being introduced, from 29th February 2008, into all aspects of Business Immigration. If you are considering, or do from time to time seek a work permit for a potential worker make sure you know about the changes.

The changes arise from the introduction of Civil Penalties for illegal workers with effect from 29th February 2008.

In addition to this, a new Points Based System is being introduced on a roll out process by the Home Office and this will affect 80 current work and study immigration categories. The new points based system will be based on a five tier structure. It is thought that this new system will have significant impact on any companies proposing to make new work permit applications and/or extension applications. They will now need to apply to be licensed as a sponsor and have various ongoing obligations in order to maintain their licence.

Highly Skilled Migrants are covered within Tier 1 of the new points based system, and the time scale for implementation is likely to be March 2008. Tier 2, which incorporates a very significantly modified version of the existing Work Permit Scheme (to include an English language requirement and electronic certificates of sponsorship issued by the licensed UK companies), is likely to be implemented during autumn 2008.