Comments on: How to address concerns about immigration http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2009/01/how-to-address-concerns-about-immigration/ Policy news and comment from the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Thu, 24 May 2012 08:14:05 +0000 hourly 1 By: Simon http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2009/01/how-to-address-concerns-about-immigration/comment-page-1/#comment-1628 Simon Mon, 23 Feb 2009 20:56:56 +0000 http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/?p=1596#comment-1628 I would like to bring into your kind notice the state of the highly skilled migrants under current economic and political scenario. I appreciate your comments. The Highly skilled migrants have always been a victim of change and uncertainties of the immigration policies. Its always been tougher for the people who have migrated to the UK under programs like HSMP to keep up with change in policies. I am concerned by the statements given by MS. Jacqui Smith that the laws will be made tighter for highly skilled migrants entering to the UK and their earning criteria will be increased, moreover their dependants will be refused work and other benefits. I respect that in current situation its necessary to reduce migrants when the JOBs are scarce and workers are made redundant. But what about those who are already here, who qualified for the immigration some time back and are also struggling with others to win their daily bread. With all due respect, I would like to bring into your kind consideration the following concerning questions. The current economic situation is a big concern. Its tough to get a job and its tougher to get a well paid one. The migrants on HSMP have left their country to make UK their home and contribute to countrys economy and their dependants are the also adding to the skills base and economy in some way or another. Shouldnt the points based system for the extension of stay be more realistic, taking into consideration the current situation? Shouldnt it be incentivised to those who opt to stay away from London? Isnt the current entry and extension criteria is much more London-ised? Majority of HSMPs have the skills either in shortage or vital to the UK economy. I have full faith in the UK law and systems and I am very hopeful that the concerns of thousands of highly skilled migrants would be heard and noticed and something would be done to make the lives easier. I would like to bring into your kind notice the state of the highly skilled migrants under current economic and political scenario.
I appreciate your comments. The Highly skilled migrants have always been a victim of change and uncertainties of the immigration policies. Its always been tougher for the people who have migrated to the UK under programs like HSMP to keep up with change in policies.
I am concerned by the statements given by MS. Jacqui Smith that the laws will be made tighter for highly skilled migrants entering to the UK and their earning criteria will be increased, moreover their dependants will be refused work and other benefits. I respect that in current situation its necessary to reduce migrants when the JOBs are scarce and workers are made redundant. But what about those who are already here, who qualified for the immigration some time back and are also struggling with others to win their daily bread. With all due respect, I would like to bring into your kind consideration the following concerning questions.
The current economic situation is a big concern. Its tough to get a job and its tougher to get a well paid one. The migrants on HSMP have left their country to make UK their home and contribute to countrys economy and their dependants are the also adding to the skills base and economy in some way or another. Shouldnt the points based system for the extension of stay be more realistic, taking into consideration the current situation? Shouldnt it be incentivised to those who opt to stay away from London? Isnt the current entry and extension criteria is much more London-ised?
Majority of HSMPs have the skills either in shortage or vital to the UK economy. I have full faith in the UK law and systems and I am very hopeful that the concerns of thousands of highly skilled migrants would be heard and noticed and something would be done to make the lives easier.

]]> By: Robert Day http://touchstoneblog.org.uk/2009/01/how-to-address-concerns-about-immigration/comment-page-1/#comment-1076 Robert Day Fri, 02 Jan 2009 22:48:52 +0000 http://www.touchstoneblog.org.uk/?p=1596#comment-1076 Completely agree, Owen. On your last bullet point: it's a sad fact of our society today that joining communal clubs of any description is seen as unfashionable, so many people no longer mix with people from different walks of life and just stay within their peer group/comfort zone. The more different people we meet, the better we cope with people's differences. Your second bullet point also makes a telling point: the UK is a low wage economy, and so many of our problems stem from that. The credit crisis, for example, wouldn't be so bad if so many workers didn;t have to rely on credit because wages are too low to allow people to build up savings. And credit over-extension happens because you say to yourself "Oh, I need to borrow £750 for a big garage bill. No problem. But hey, if I round that up to £1000, then I can have such-and-such as well. I can afford the extra (just)..." It amazes me that so many employers decide to offshore because our costs are too high, but still expect to be able to sell their product in the UK to the same people who they think are too expensive to employ themselves. I boycott Peugeot for that very reason, for example, since they closed their Coventry factory but still expect the peopole of Coventry to buy their cars. Completely agree, Owen. On your last bullet point: it’s a sad fact of our society today that joining communal clubs of any description is seen as unfashionable, so many people no longer mix with people from different walks of life and just stay within their peer group/comfort zone. The more different people we meet, the better we cope with people’s differences.

Your second bullet point also makes a telling point: the UK is a low wage economy, and so many of our problems stem from that. The credit crisis, for example, wouldn’t be so bad if so many workers didn;t have to rely on credit because wages are too low to allow people to build up savings. And credit over-extension happens because you say to yourself “Oh, I need to borrow £750 for a big garage bill. No problem. But hey, if I round that up to £1000, then I can have such-and-such as well. I can afford the extra (just)…”

It amazes me that so many employers decide to offshore because our costs are too high, but still expect to be able to sell their product in the UK to the same people who they think are too expensive to employ themselves. I boycott Peugeot for that very reason, for example, since they closed their Coventry factory but still expect the peopole of Coventry to buy their cars.

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