Employers who fail to check the credentials of foreign employees from outwith the EU face on-the-spot fines of up to £10,000 from today, as part of a new package of measures aimed at improving immigration.
The first stage of the UK's new points system begins today for foreign nationals and will be enforced with a range of civil penalties for employers who fail to adhere to the new rules.
The new system, based on the Australian model of immigration which allows those with the skills in greatest demand to work in the country, has five tiers which apply to different professions and experience.
Tier one, which applies to the most highly skilled, begins today for those already living in the UK and wishing to extend their stay.
It applies to graduates in England and Wales and those with degrees or Higher National Diplomas (HND) to stay on in Scotland.
The threshold for entry will be slightly lower north of the border in an attempt to address greater demand here. It will include a Scotland-specific shortage occupation list and incorporate Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates as well as those with university degrees.
The list of area-specific skills shortages will be compiled by the migration advisory committee, an independent group of experts who will consult with business leaders and employers and report back to the government.
The committee is due to visit Glasgow and Aberdeen at the end of April and could in theory recommend a different points level for a profession particularly in need of new workers such as the fish processing industry.
Tier two is due to be introduced in the autumn and will apply to particular occupational shortages and will be changed depending on the labour market.
It could, for example, offer particularly high points to bus conductors or brain surgeons if there was a scarcity in the UK or in a particular region.
There are currently no plans to introduce tier three, which applies to unskilled migrants and the other parts of the points system will be introduced during the next 12 months.
Speaking exclusively to The Herald, Phil Taylor, regional director of Borders and Immigration for Scotland and Northern Ireland, revealed the UK Government will also be rolling out fingerprinting and ID cards for foreign nationals applying to work in the UK.
As the system is introduced, all those applying to work in the UK will require an ID card with their biometric details.
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