The Points-based system’s restrictions of low-skilled migrants is impacting restaurants across the country.
Most of the UK’s curry houses, estimated to number almost 10,000, recruit staff for their kitchens directly from Bangladesh. The new Points-based system is restricting curry houses’ ability to recruit people with the right skills, leading to staff shortages.
The industry is in trouble, and Immigration ministers are not listening. The government expects that the staff shortages will be filled by Eastern Europeans from the new EU countries, but in reality, the cultural differences may be too great.
Migration impact forums were established by the UK Border Agency, and are in place to provide a channel for local communities to provide feedback to the UK Border Agency on the impact of Immigration policy. Even with such forums in place, the government is standing firm on the issue of managed migration, and has no plans to make any alterations to the Points Based System.
The challenges of staff shortages that are being felt through the UK’s curry houses come at a time when such restaurants are already feeling the pinch due to a drop in consumer spending, and the increased price of rice.
The Points Based System, which consists of Tiers 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5, are currently being implemented. The system consolidates over 80 different migration paths to the UK, allowing migrants who will be of benefit to the UK to immigrate.
