Britain may shut doors to foreign workers

LONDON: Britain is planning to banadvertising jobs overseas due to economic meltdown, a process which could hitIndian professionals aspiring for employment opportunities in UK.The government is mulling an idea to ensure that existing jobs go toBritish workers. The employers are being forced to notify vacancies inemployment agencies within Britain to prioritise local candidates.Indians form the largest group of foreign professionals working inBritain. Every day, thousands of jobs are being cut across thesectors in Britain. Official figures suggest that unemployment figure isreaching the 2 million mark, for the first time since the mid-1990s.Jacqui Smith, the home secretary, has announced plans to forcethousands of nursing, primary teaching, hotel management and other���skilled migrant��� jobs to be advertised in employment agencies suchas Jobcentre Plus. Smith said "When it comes to immigration, indifficult economic times, I believe we need a tough system that offers Britishworkers the first crack of the whip for jobs here." Companies thatbreak the new rules could have their licence to employ non-European Unionmigrants revoked. Officials believe that the change will curb thenumber of migrants coming to Britain, because they will not be able to obtain awork visa without having a specific job offer. Official figures showthat immigrants have taken four out of every five new jobs in Britain since1997. The Office for National Statistics says that there are currently 5,62,000unfilled vacancies in the British economy.