UK Explains Why It Is Tightening Laws To Reduce Flooding Of Immigrants
According to data from United Nation's migration data in 2020, the United States of America (USA) has the highest number of Kenyan migrants, with 157,000 followed by the UK with 139,000.
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British High Commissioner to Kenya, Neil Wigan on Monday, December 11 explained why the British government had recently introduced new measures to reduce an influx of immigrants who are moving to the United Kingdom (UK) every year.
Earlier in December, Home Secretary James Cleverly explained that the new measures aim to cut down on the over 300,000 people migrating to the United Kingdom. This figure includes a substantial number of Kenyan immigrants.
According to data from United Nation's migration data in 2020, the United States of America (USA) has the highest number of Kenyan migrants, with 157,000 followed by the UK with 139,000.
The new policies touched on family dependants, eligibility for work visas, graduate visas, and annual charges, which caused uproar globally and within the country, with Kenyans expressing their dissent at the new policies that would take effect beginning January 2024.
Passengers at Terminal 4, Heathrow Airport in London, United Kingdom. /MYLONDON.NEWS
Wigan, while speaking to TV47's Flora Limukii, lamented that the high migrations to the UK were putting a strain on its public service delivery, hence the new policies.
"We have very high levels of migration to the U.K. at the moment and that puts a huge strain on public services and on local communities to try and absorb it. We're trying to sort of control migration and make sure people coming to the U.K. are adding value," he addressed.
Responding to concerns regarding the stringent measures one has to undergo before moving to the UK, the British envoy underscored that illegal migrations pose a threat to the nation's security, though pointed out that the process was fair, adding that Kenyans should take their time to go through the regulations.
"I know the process of moving to the UK is expensive and complicated and that's frustrating, but given the reality of threats of illegal migration that we have, that's probably not going to change.
"What I would say to people is that it is a fair process, so look at the regulations and guidance and follow them very closely and that would increase your chances of success. There are tens of thousands of Kenyans studying and working in the UK, so it is the second biggest source of remittance to Kenya after the United States (US), showing that many Kenyans can and do find good jobs in the UK and come back to Kenya with the skills and experience they have gained," Wigan added.
In the new immigration policies, overseas care workers will no longer be allowed to bring family dependants, with Cleverly arguing that over 100,000 family members accompanied care workers to the UK in the year ending September 2023, raising concerns regarding the immigrants' ability to take care of their relatives and not be a burden to the government.
Furthermore, the threshold for one to qualify for a skilled worker visa in the UK has increased from the minimum income of Ksh5 million to Ksh7.4 million, meaning one has to earn a minimum income of Ksh7 million every year to qualify for a skilled work visa.
Currently, the UK visa consists of five tiers, including Tier 1 for High-Value Migrants such as experts, Tier 2 for skilled workers, Tier 3 which is unskilled workers, Tier 4 for students and Tier 5 for temporary workers.
The Home Secretary also announced that the shortage occupation list would be abolished to provide a level plain field between the British and foreign workers. This is a list comprising jobs in which the demand exceeds the supply in the labour market.
According to the previous law, foreign workers were preferred by employers as the law allowed the immigrants to be paid 20 per cent less than the British workers. However, this new rule will see the list replaced with a new immigration list that will provide the same rates for Britons.
Cleverly also announced that the British government has increased the annual charges that foreign workers pay to use the National Health Service (NHS) from the current Ksh121,033 to Ksh198,424. The NHS is a service in the UK that provides affordable medical treatment for everyone and is paid through taxes.
Finally, the British government set up a Migration Advisory Committee to conduct a full review of the graduate visa route and announce ways to limit the numbers.
The new policies see the UK join the likes of the US, Australia and Canada which have imposed tough rules meant to cut down on the number of immigrants streaming into the countries.
