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(CNN) - Companies in Great Britain warn that a new immigration system that prioritizes skilled workers could lead to labor shortages in industries such as agriculture and social assistance.
The UK government announced on Wednesday a system under which potential immigrants to the country will receive points based on their specific skills and qualifications, their potential salary and their profession. Applicants with enough points will receive a work visa.
Established to take effect in January 2021, the system is designed to reduce the number of unskilled workers who come to Britain and put an end to what the government describes as the "dependence of the country on cheap and low-skilled labor. " Points will be awarded for your English proficiency, and all applicants must have a job offer.
The secretary of the Interior of the United Kingdom, Priti Patel, said in a statement that the system would allow Britain to attract "the brightest and best" from around the world.
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Companies that came to depend on EU workers during the decades when the United Kingdom was a member of the bloc are less excited.
Christina McAnea, deputy general secretary of the UNISON public sector union, said there are not enough workers in the country to meet social care demands, even under the current immigration system. The elderly and more vulnerable could be left without support, he said.
"These plans mean an absolute disaster for the care sector," McAnea said.
Farmers have also issued warnings. Minette Batters, president of the National Farmers Union, said the sector needs 70,000 temporary workers to have a successful harvest. In past years, many of the positions were filled by EU workers.
"We have repeatedly said that for agricultural companies, it is about having the full range of skills needed, from collectors and packers to meat processors and veterinarians, if we want to continue delivering affordable, high quality food to the public," Batters said. a statement.
"The lack of an entry route for these jobs will severely affect the agricultural sector," he added.
Some aspects of the new system are welcome, said Carolyn Fairbairn, general director of the Confederation of British Industry. This includes the abolition of a limit on the number of qualified visas that the government can issue and the introduction of a post-study work visa for foreign students.
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"However, in some sectors, companies will wonder how they will recruit the people needed to manage their businesses," Fairbairn said in a statement. "With unemployment already low, care, construction, hospitality, food and drink companies could be the most affected."
Adam Williams, a partner at the London law firm DMH Stallard, commented that "many organizations will be understandably concerned." With the unemployment rate at 3.8%, he said "it's hard to see how the domestic workforce can close the skills gap."
Immigration
