Bridge HR articles

The Home Secretary’s announcement in early December, that the minimum annual salary threshold for employees on Skilled Worker visas was set to increase from £26,200 to £38,700 this Spring, understandably caused concern for businesses employing migrant workers under this route.

After all, this is quite a hike and, having taken someone on, on one salary, to find out that you may have to increase that salary by almost 50% was understandably cause for concern. We had a number of harried enquiries!

We are continuing to monitor this and update but a recent announcement by the Minister for Legal Migration states that this increase is not going to apply to:

• Employees already here under the Skilled Worker route; or
• Applications made before the rules change (currently thought to be this Spring)…..
• ….when they change employment, extend their visas or settle.

So, it is looking as though those already in the Skilled Worker route before the Immigration Rules changes should be exempt from the new salary levels when they change sponsor, extend, or settle. 

However, employers must still make sure that the pay of these workers progresses at the same rate as resident workers in line with normal practice – so they would be subject to the updated 25^th percentiles using the latest pay data when they make their applications to change employment, extend or settle.

This should hopefully give some reassurance to those of you who hold Skilled Worker Sponsor Licences- we will keep you updated if this changes or when we get updates.

In the meantime, if you have any queries on this issue or any other aspect of business immigration or wider employment law, we can help. Contact our friendly specialist Employment Law Solicitors by emailing enquiries@bridgeehr.co.uk.