Todayís announcement by the Government that unskilled workers from outside the EU will not be allowed to work in the UK when the new points based immigration system is introduced is fully justified, according to John Philpott, Chief Economist at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).
Dr Philpott said:
ìThe acid test of any policy for managing migration is that it meets reasonable and legitimate employer need without detriment to the common good. The detail of the forthcoming points based system, as outlined by ministers today, strikes a sensible balance even though it may frustrate some employers.
ìThe UK economy is now fully stocked with Eastern European migrants capable of performing unskilled jobs. Blocking entry of unskilled people from outside the EU may sound harsh but will be good news for disadvantaged jobseekers and many in existing ethnic minority communities in the UK, and will ease strain on housing, schools and social services.
ìThe Governmentís points based immigration policy is both fair and economically sound ñ but ministers should be wary of overdoing the dog whistle rhetoric of ëBritish jobs for British workers.î
Government right to restrict entry of unskilled migrants from outside the EU
Todayís announcement by the Government that unskilled workers from outside the EU will not be allowed to work in the UK when the new points based immigration system is introduced is fully justified
