UK government agrees skilled migration cap

London, 24 Nov-(ANA)-The British government has announced a cap of 21,700 on the number of skilled workers from outside the European Economic Area allowed into the UK.

The figure is a cut of 6,300 on the equivalent figure for 2009.

It excludes employees transferred by companies from abroad - in future they will be allowed to stay for up to five years if their salary exceeds £40,000.

Home Secretary Theresa May said immigration would become "sustainable", but opposition Labour party called the plans "a con".

The exclusion from the cap of intra-company transfers - for example someone working for a large US company taking up a job in their London office - is seen as a success for the business lobby.

In addition to an apparent unlimited number of such transfers if the salary is above £40,000, firms are also being allowed to bring members of their staff to work in the UK for a year if the job is in ICT and the salary is over £24,000.

Altogether 22,000 employees came to work in the UK via intra-company transfers in 2009.

The government's 21,700 figure will include 1,000 people let in under a new "exceptional talent" scheme applying to scientists, academics and artists, Mrs May told MPs.

The coalition has committed itself to reduce net migration from 196,000 to the "tens of thousands" by 2015. (ANA)

FA/ANA/24 November 2010-------