Computer Weekly has reported that the UK government is seeking advice on proposals to reduce the number of individuals working in the UK from outside of Europe.

Overseas service providers can currently transfer staff to the UK to work on contracts with UK-based companies, provided the workers specialise in areas where the country has a skills shortage and the wages paid meet the government’s minimum salary threshold.

The UK government is now looking to reduce the number of these workers by increasing the pay threshold, reforming the skills shortage list and introducing an additional charge for the visas involved – that money will go towards developing homegrown skills which the UK is currently lacking.

Kerry Hallard, CEO of the National Outsourcing Association, warned that these proposals could prove costly: "The government wants to invest in developing home-grown skills here in the UK and that's admirable, but progress will take years.

“In the meantime, the UK shouldn't simply shut out talent that's available around the rest of the world. To do so would damage our economy which British workers are reliant on, harming the very people these proposed changes are meant to help.”

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