Economic Migration - Objectives of managed migration policy - MRN: Migrant Rights Network

Publication: towards progressive immigration policy

(42 page .pdf)

Migration Opportunity
Map Project (MOMP)

Publication: Migrant Voices, Migrants Rights

Economic Migration

Objectives of managed migration policy

The demand for migrant labour to relieve acute labour and sectoral skill shortages has led to a change of direction in policy thinking on migration - from immigration control to migration management. The shift in policy language has come out of a consensus that by managing migration, the U.K. will benefit from a range of economic and social outcomes. According to the five-year strategy on asylum and immigration the principal objectives are to attract the brightest and the best workers from across the world in order to:

sustain economic growth and ease inflationary pressure;
increase innovation and productivity;
respond to the challenges of global economic change; and
remain competitive in the global economy.

To ensure these objectives are being effectively met, a top to bottom review of managed migration was initiated in 2004 (Home Office, 2004). The review concluded that the previous system had become too complex and bureaucratic . In response high-level reform was proposed to bring together all the existing work schemes and students into a single points-based system with a five tier framework (Home Office, 2006).

The new managed migration system builds on this policy trajectory to select and allow only highly skilled and skilled workers to settle, with settlement criteria based on levels of human capital, language ability and previous earnings. At the opposite end of the skills spectrum, there is now very limited provision for sectors and industries in need of low skilled workers, as existing low-skilled schemes are to be phased out in response to the numbers of workers available from the EU accession states. All that will remain will be quota-based low skilled schemes which are set-up with countries that have effective returns arrangements.

Other changes include some categories of migrant workers requiring a sponsor and for workers from high-risk countries or visa categories, individuals will be required to provide financial bonds.

The new system has attracted criticism as the arrangements for low skilled migration, according to the CRE and the TUC, are akin to a ‘guest-worker’ scheme. They argue that this will undermine integration and create a two-tier workforce. The requirement to provide a financial bond has also been criticised as potentially stigmatising certain communities (CRE, 2005) and increasing the potential for exploitation of vulnerable migrant workers (TUC, 2005).

For more on economic migration and the objectives of the managed migration system see:

Home Office (2002) Secure borders and Safe haven: Integration with diversity in modern Britain, London: TSO. (PDF)

Home Office (2004) Managed migration review.

Commission for Racial Equality (2005) Selective admission: Making Migration work for Britain – CRE Consultation Response. London: CRE.(Word doc)

Home Office (2005) Selective admission: Making migration work for Britain. London: TSO. Available at:

Home Office (2005 ) Controlling our borders: Making migration work for Britain. A five year strategy for asylum and immigration. London: TSO. (PDF)

TUC (2005) Making a rights based migration system work. London: TUC. (PDF)

Home Office (2006) A points-based system: Making migration work for Britain. London: TSO.

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