Britain unveiled its new points- based migration system on Tuesday to attract much-needed skill workers.

Unveiling the government's Command Paper on the points-based system for managed migration, Home Secretary Charles Clark called on industry and education sectors to play their role in making migration work for Britain, reminding them of their responsibility to help make the new scheme a success.

The points based system is a central part of the government's five-year strategy for asylum and immigration, which was published in February 2005, said Tony McNulty, Minister of State for immigration, citizenship and nationality, at a press briefing late in the afternoon.

The system consolidates more than 80 existing work and study routes into five tiers. Highly skilled people like scientists or entrepreneurs fall into tier one; skilled workers with a job offer such as nurses, teachers or engineers belong to tier two; low skilled workers filling specific temporary labor shortages such as construction workers fall in tier three. Students are in tier four while working holiday makers or musicians coming to play a concert form into tier five.

Points are to be awarded to reflect aptitude, experience, age and also the level of need in any given sector, to allow Britain to respond flexibly to changes in the labor market.

Employers and educational institutions are subjected to sponsorship to ensure compliance whereas financial securities are placed to ensure that migrants return home at the end of their stay.

Low-skilled workers from outside the European Union will only be employed in cases of short-term shortages, said the minister.

The scheme will be complemented with a tougher approach from British embassies abroad to weed out false applications and will place increased obligations on British businesses.

"Managed migration is in the interest of the UK. Today's announcement sets out the government's policy to deliver a firm but fair, simpler, more transparent and more rigorous system, which will benefit our economy and protect our borders," said Clarke, the Home Secretary.

According to him, in the future, foreign workers or students will need a British sponsor to vouch for them, ensuring that businesses and colleges take responsibility for making sure foreign workers and students comply with visa rules.

"This new scheme fits alongside other activity being undertaking to tighten up our immigration procedures. We are implementing new technology through the e-borders program to record simply and effectively details of passengers intending to enter or leave the UK before they begin their journey, and by the end of 2006 we will begin to require individuals applying for visas to be fingerprinted," noted Clarke.

The Department of Health also announced on Tuesday the end of the existing immigration routes for postgraduate doctors and dentists, except for those who have studied for their degrees in the country.

The new scheme is not expected to be implemented until 18 months later.

Source: Xinhua