UK raises salary threshold for foreign workers visa to £38,700 as part of anti-migration drive

The UK government, led by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, has announced stringent measures to curtail the influx of migrants through legal channels. 

Interior Minister James Cleverly outlined key changes, including raising the minimum salary threshold for foreign skilled workers from £26,200 to £38,700, revising the exceptions list for job shortages, and tightening regulations on family reunification.

Cleverly, emphasising the need for a reduction in migration, stated, "Migration to this country is far too high and needs to come down, and today we are taking more robust action than any other government before." These measures are set to be implemented in the upcoming spring.

While aimed at addressing concerns over high migration levels, these measures may spark disagreements with business owners struggling to hire in the tight labour market. Annual net migration reached a record 745,000 last year, prompting the government's commitment to reducing numbers. 

Cleverly estimates that these measures, coupled with a reduction in student dependents, could result in approximately 300,000 fewer people entering the UK in the coming years compared to the previous year.