IMMIGRATION MATTERS
By Charles Kelly Immigration
Adviser and Co Author of “How 2 Come to the UK to Live Work Study or Visit”
BBC Reports that a record 582,000 people came to live in the UK from elsewhere in the world in
2004.
However, figures from the Office for National Statistics show
that a record 360,000 left the UK to live abroad. In fact, Britain has lost more skilled workers to the global
brain drain than any other country, according to a World Bank report, even more
so than the Philippines in second place and India which comes in third. (Immigration Matters Special Report on Britain’s
Brain Drain see www.overseasconsultancy.com)
New EU
nationals account for 40% of the increase. Officials estimate 52,600 workers
from the 10 new EU countries came to Britain in 2004, mostly from Poland and Lithuania. People from the new EU countries
do not need work permits and can travel freely to the UK.
Employers
in the healthcare sector have taken advantage of this new pool of labour and over
5000 have officially registered as Care Assistants under the Worker
Registration Scheme. Many employers have found, however, that whilst
it may be initially easier to employ an EU care worker than a worker from
outside the EU, it is also easier for them to move freely around the job
market. In effect they are the same as a British person who can earn more money
with less responsibility working in Tescos. Some owners
report a higher turnover rate for Eastern European staff than those on Work
Permits. Healthcare Bi Weekly would be interested to hear about your own
experience.
As
Immigration Advisers we deal with a number of candidates
from India and The Philippines. We are currently dealing with a large
group of Adaptation Nurses and Senior Carers left stranded after being
interviewed and accepted by a nursing home group. The company was subsequently taken over and the
new owners cancelled the job order, leaving many of the candidates in an
extremely difficult position having made plans to go abroad. If any employers
out there are willing to take these candidates, there will be no fees or charges
for obtaining the Work Permit, which we will arrange on their behalf. If you
are interested, please email us.
If you should have any
questions concerning any of the above issues please email Charles Kelly Info@overseasconsultancy.com or call 0870 458 0417