- The United Kingdom government has withdrew its proposal to increase the minimum wage level for citizens of the United Kingdom who bring foreign family members to the country. The new threshold will be raised to £29,000 from £38,700. The amended plan, which was unannounced in a parliamentary answer, stated that the barrier would rise “incrementally” and would ultimately reach £38,700, although it did not specify when this would occur. Opposition parties denounced the policy’s abrupt shift and lack of clarity, with Labour characterizing it as being in “chaos.”
- 75% of people could afford to bring family members along if the barrier was set at £18,600; if it was set at £38,700, only 40% of people could afford it, and only 25% of those in the north-east of England. The initial adjustment was projected to have a significant negative impact on families, as many expressed fear of being forced to live apart, and only contribute around 10,000 to the total targeted decrease of 300,000 in yearly migration numbers, given that such visas make up a small share of all legal migration.
- Reunite Families, an advocacy group for immigrants impacted by immigration laws, had given attorneys instructions to look into methods to fight the revisions, which some had called “a punishment for falling in love.” The updated policy states that the minimum income criteria “will be increased in incremental stages to give predictability.” It was revealed by Conservative peer and junior Home Office minister Andrew Sharpe in a written parliamentary response. Starting in the spring of the following year, the rise to £29,000 would be based on the 25th percentile of salaries for jobs that qualify for skilled worker visas. The response did not, however, specify when the transfers above £29,000 would take place.
- James Cleverly seems to be trying to diffuse some of the tension without upsetting Conservative MPs on the right by partially abandoning the new barrier, which is why there is some uncertainty.
Source:
Graphic Online
