A new points-based immigration system is expected to come into effect on 1 January 2021.
The new points based Immigration System has a number of minimum thresholds including a minimum general salary threshold of £25,600 and a minimum A-level education threshold and according to the Home Secretary, Priti Patel, the plan is to “attract the brightest and the best from around the globe”. It allows for a lower £20,480 salary threshold if migrants can demonstrate they already have a job offer in a “specific shortage occupation”. There are also a number of non-tradeable (non-negotiable) characteristics that they will not compromise on. Specifically, all applicants must have a job offer to walk into, the job must be at the appropriate skill level and they must be able to speak English.
Below is a breakdown of the new points based system (a migrant must attain a minimum of 70 points to be eligible to apply)…
There is, however, a lesser known escape clause in the govt’s formal statement. They reveal that, just in case the proverbial hits the fan, they are also considering creating “a broader unsponsored route within the points-based system to run alongside the employer-led system”. If approved, it will allow “highly-skilled workers” into the UK without a job offer. According to the govt’s statement, the “broader unsponsored route” is merely an option to be considered at this point.
So, just who does Priti Patel consider unworthy? Who are these people that the govt are prepared to reject and label as not particularly bright or of ‘best’ stock? Would ‘your’ salary stand up to the test? Are you bi-lingual? Do you have a PhD? Nope? Well, that’s you she’s talking about then but don’t worry, because you’re in good company………
Police Officers basic annual starting salary: between £19,971 and £23,124
https://www.police.uk/news/home-office-announces-police-pay-award/
Prison Instructional Officer’s basic annual starting salary: £20,000
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/prison-instructor
Firefighters basic annual starting salary: £23,500
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/firefighter
Child Protection Officer’s basic annual starting salary: £25,000
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/child-protection-officer
Average Salary of an NHS Healthcare Assistance: £17,039
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=mednurse
Average Salary of an NHS Care Assistance: £17,235
Average Salary of an NHS Care Worker: £17,542
Average Salary of an NHS Caregiver: £18,825
Average Salary of an NHS Community Care Worker: £23,921
Average Salary of an NHS Disability Support Worker: £18,174
Average Salary of an NHS Home Care Aid: £16,285
Average Salary of an NHS Home Care Worker: £21,006
Average Salary of an NHS Personal Care Assistant: £8,064
Average Salary of an NHS Senior Care Worker: £21,410
Average Salary of an NHS Support Worker: £18,275
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=care
Average Salary of an NHS Chief Pharmacy Officer: £17,460
Average Salary of an NHS Pharmacy Assistant: £17,294
Average Salary of an NHS Senior Pharmacy Assistant: £18,106
Average Salary of an NHS Pharmacy Dispensing Assistant: £17,805
Average Salary of an NHS Pharmacy Dispenser: £20,154
Average Salary of an NHS Entry Level Pharmacy Technician: £23,726
Average Salary of an NHS Pharmacy Technician: £23,416
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=pharmacy
Average Salary of an NHS Associate Scientist: £21,701
Average Salary of an NHS Laboratory Assistant: £17,316
Average Salary of an NHS Senior Laboratory Assistant: £17,113
Average Salary of an NHS Research Assistant: £25,616
Average Salary of an NHS Research Technician: £26,996
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=science
Average Salary of an NHS Psychology Associate: £21,206
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=socialscience
Average Salary of an NHS Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant: £18,499
Average Salary of an NHS Junior Occupational Therapist: £25,153
Average Salary of an NHS Occupational Therapy Aide: £26,341
Average Salary of an NHS Physical Therapy Aide: £21,999
Average Salary of an NHS Physiotherapy Assistant: £17,945
Average Salary of an NHS Rehabilitation Assistant: £18,682
Average Salary of an NHS Rehabilitation Technician: £21,621
Average Salary of an NHS Speech Language Pathologist: £23,282
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=therapy
Average Salary for an NHS Healthcare Recruiter: £18,605
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=hr
Average Salary for an NHS Dental Nurse: £21,997
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=meddental
Average Salary for an NHS Catering Assistant: £15,714
Average Salary for an NHS Chef: £16,950
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=food
Average Salary for an NHS Porter: £19,061
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=hospitality
Average Salary for NHS IT Support staff: £19,524
Average Salary for NHS Technical Support staff: £18,994
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=techhelp
Average Salary for an NHS Installation & Maintenance Technician: £21,726
Average Salary for an NHS Installation & Maintenance Safety Technician: £20,311
Average Salary for an NHS Installation & Maintenance Service Technician: £25,423
Average Salary for an NHS Installation & Maintenance Senior Technician: £25,937
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=install
Average Salary for an NHS Healthcare Advisor: £18,325
Average Salary for an NHS Care Navigator: £19,527
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=medinfo
Average Salary for an NHS Clinical Assistant: £18,375
Average Salary for an NHS Clinical Technician: £23,015
Average Salary for an NHS Emergency Medical Technician: £23,678
Average Salary for an NHS Endoscopy Technician: £23,678
Average Salary for an NHS Health Screener: £23,678
https://www.indeed.co.uk/cmp/Nhs/salaries?job_category=medtech
Starting salary for a Paramedic : £24,214
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/paramedic
A newly qualified teacher, can expect a starting salary of about: £24,373
An unqualified teacher, can expect a starting salary of about: £17,682
https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/teachers-salary-and-teaching-benefits/teachers-pay-scale-salary
Average Salary for a Teachers assistant: £21,785
https://www.totaljobs.com/salary-checker/average-teaching-assistant-salary
Primary School Teacher’s basic annual starting salary: £24,373
https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/job-profiles/primary-school-teacher
I could keep going but I think I’ve already proven, without any real doubt, that the typical salary of the majority of the men and women who make up the heart and engine that keeps the UK ticking would fall well below Priti Patel’s criteria for who she considers to be people of value. What’s even more frightening is that the new points based system completely ignores desperate shortages in important service sectors and in particular in policing and the NHS. I suppose we could chalk this up to utter incompetence or complete ignorance on the part of the government but some of the more cynical amongst us might well wonder if this could actually be by design? After all, can we really trust the government when they claim they want to hire 20,000 more police officers and 50,000 more nurses? Clearly, actions speak louder than words!
