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Story: Rise in UK work permits sparks alarm

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Overseas workers brought to the UK on a Work Permit are NOT cheaper

I process work permits for an IT firm and the legal requirements are that you must pay the individual the same rate as a UK 'resident worker' or if still being paid on an overseas payroll must supplement their normal pay with allowances. The Home Office actually sets minimum salaries for IT professionals on work permits. http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk/documents/businessandcommericaloccsheet/occsheetitoccsheets.pdf?view=Binary

This means that if the company also pays relocation costs the individual may in fact be more expensive than hiring a UK resident, or someone from Eastern Europe where the salary requirements are just the minimum wage rules (although of course a UK IT Worker would request a market rate salary).

The issue is that the Home Office does not appear to actually check whether the individual is being paid at the rate stated on the work permit as the only time they have view of this is when the individual applies for an extension to their leave to remain on the basis of the work permit being extended and has to provide proof of earnings. If they moved to another job, or were sent back to their home country on the expiry of the work permit I doubt the Home Office would actually know.

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