Immigration

[emmie]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-51550421

will it work in effect..

[zebo]

Has Ms Abbott given a figure for the exemptions, rounded to the nearest 5000 would be near enough.

[Old_Geezer]

Probably works better if less generous with the deliberately workshy wrt handouts. Folk need to feel that they want to make a contribution to society during their core working years, and a lack of folding should be a decent incentive. Get the police to prioritise crimes that supplement income more than the presently do, to reduce the opportunity of getting away with that, and it should ensure more gradually changing their attitude to being employed.

[emmie]

not sure zebo. have a look at the link to see if it says...

[AuntPollyGrey]

The British 'workshy' will not be made to work. Now that 'bad backs' can't be faked, due to MMR scans, they will all become anxious and have mental health challenges and go on Disability Allowance.. Easy enough to google the symptoms and present as depressed or whatever. The UK needs agricultural workers and care workers from the EU for at least the next few years to address this problem of lazy workshy people. The government should lower the wage threshold for a visa for agricultural and care workers to the minimum wage . The employers must be made to advertise on the open job market for at least a month to encourage UK citizens to apply ( This is what happens in Canada) and if no suitable applicant from the UK can be found then a non UK citizen can have the job. Address the problem of laziness and entitlement in the UK by making all employment at least minimum wage, backed up with Working Tax Credit, and ban zero hours contracts and most of all do away with Universal Credit.

[Bobbisox1]

Hear, hear APG, a well written post

[ToraToraTora]

This is a good thing, it will force employers to invest more in their staff and ultimately pay them more. Instead of cheap labour distorting the wages, employers will have to pay more to retain staff and possibly tempt some of the WSS from in front of their xboxes. I'd have thought the socialists would welcome this.

[emmie]

some won't like it, i can see that it has merit and could work well in the future.

[Zacs-Master]

It's great news for employers wanting highly skilled workers. It's not so great for those who need 'on demand' low skilled workers such as farms and the social care sector.

[teacake44]

Yep, the employers ( if you can call them that) will be shaking in their boots of the thought of paying a living wage. Their overnight sheds/jails / accommodation hopefully will no longer be needed.

[SlackAlice]

It makes a good starting point, may well need a little queak here and there. Much better than whats in operation at the moment.

[Theland]

APG should be in the Cabinet.
Well said.
Best Answer :-)

[pixie374]

I don't think so, theland. This seems to be a good idea. One thing I have noticed is how difficult it is for 14-18 year olds to get work. It is good for their confidence, experience, some independence, work ethic... but there is so much choice and competition for jobs, that it makes it difficult for them, even with unskilled, part-time jobs.
I think you have it the wrong way round, ich. Basic economics is demand and supply. The more competition there is for each post, the lower wages will go... so this may well give younger, semi-retired, people with young families, those with health or disability problems that can't work full-time, a better chance. Zero hours contracts are also a lifesaver for some people. They were for me as a single parent and I don't think removing choices, is really a way forward.

[Old_Geezer]

Zero hours contracts are simply "employee" abuse. There are agencies available for those who want random casual work.

Any business who claims to need to abuse the work market, by importing cheap labour, has their business plan messed up. No one should want to gain from such activity. Either they find a solution, which they have no incentive to do until forced, or they leave the market for someone who can.

[Old_Geezer]

If a government feels it needs to give out Working Tax Credit then they still haven't solved the abuse problem by employers. If the government feels a sector needs help, help the business rather than let them underpay their staff.

[pixie374]

They absolutely aren't, og. Many people need flexibility with working hours. As I just said, I couldn't have afforded to commit to working through summer holidays as a single parent of four. But a zero hours contract meant I could say I wasn't available for 4 of those weeks, instead of being financially worse off. Otherwise, I would have been on benefits for the whole year instead.
People are all in different situations, and flexibility and choice are always good. I have only ever had zero hours contracts, all my life. I don't know how I could have managed otherwise, other than giving up work completely.

[fiction-factory]

I do zero hours contracts AOG and it suits me perfectly and similarly for my colleagues. It also is great for students and those with hoem responsibilities. They are not for everyone of course but it should be a bout choice. I do it via agencies who are my employers and offer me daily placements. I'm not sure of the point of banning other employers (other than agencies) from using zero hour contracts- wouldn't employers just use more agency staff to give themselves the flexibility they need.

[ichkeria]

Indeed Zacs: which is why this system is unlikely to persist in the envisaged form.

[pixie374]

Also, og, I never wanted random, casual work. I know what i do... the problem is they need too many hours, so you occasionally need to be able to say no...

[Spicerack]

They will return to the Seasonal Agricultural Workers Scheme. (where/when there's a shortfall) So no need to worry about crops rotting in the fields.

[ichkeria]

Many of the so-called “low skilled” workers from abroad are in fact skilled: but not in the field in which they are employed. Employers will always need “cheap labour”, much as it’s good that wages and training prospects might rise for some as a result of this.