BRITAIN: Britain announced plans yesterday to tighten its immigration system, but critics said the measures would expose low-skilled workers to exploitation and exacerbate a brain drain in the developing world.
The government said it wanted to switch to a points-based immigration system.
Would-be immigrants would be awarded points based on their skills, qualifications, age and experience, which would then be used to decide whether they could come to Britain and, if so, for how long and in what capacity.
The government envisages a five-tier system, to be introduced in early 2008.
In the top tier will be highly skilled immigrants, such as doctors, who will be able to come to Britain even if they do not have a job offer.
In the bottom tier will be temporary employees, such as au pairs and young people on working holidays, who will be allowed to stay in Britain only for a limited period.
The three tiers in between will cater for skilled and low-skilled workers, and students.
"I think this system will make a big difference," prime minister Tony Blair said.
"We are a country that sees a tremendous net positive in having people come to our country and contributing to it. At the same time, we have to protect ourselves against abuses."
Home secretary Charles Clarke said the proposed scheme was far simpler than the current one and, as such, would help Britain combat illegal immigration, a key issue for voters.
"We think that people who try to beat the system . . . and come here illegally will find it far more difficult to do so."
But critics said the plans would expose low-skilled workers to exploitation by denying them and their families the possibility of staying in Britain long term.
"Denying all possibility of settling in the UK to lower-skilled and unskilled migrant workers could create a workforce ripe for abuse by exploitative employers," said Habib Rahman, head of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants.
He also said the plans would allow Britain to cherrypick the talents of developing countries, contributing to a brain drain there, while making it tougher for low-skilled workers to come to Britain. - (additional reporting Madeline Chambers)