14 Labour migration, the work permit system
and other schemes
Research questions
? How stable are trends in applications for, and issues of, work permits over time?
? Is the skill spectrum changing?
? Which countries dominate the numbers of permits issued?
? Are there differences between countries in the skills they supply?
? What other schemes exist for bringing in overseas labour?
Main findings
? There have been changes in the work permit system over time, notably a dramatic increase in
the scale and nature of the operation in the 1990s.
? The system now seems more concerned than hitherto with supplying specific skills. Recent
increases have mainly been in a small number of occupations, particularly in IT and health.
? New major suppliers have emerged, especially India and the Philippines, associated with
specific skills in ways that the older sources (e.g. the US and Japan) are not.
? Schemes additional to that of work permit issues are important providers of labour though
precise levels of skill are unknown.
This chapter aims to show how the work permit system responded to the demands of the labour market. It also
includes information on other schemes designed to bring foreign labour migrants into the UK.
14.1 Introduction
Restrictions on foreigners seeking work in the UK were first introduced during the First World War. In 1919-20
a system of work permits was brought in which laid down conditions to regulate the employment of
foreigners. To obtain permits, employers had to show that the proposed employment of a foreigner was
reasonable and necessary, that adequate efforts had been made to find indigenous labour and that wages
and conditions were not less favourable than those accorded to Britis ...