More than 150K jobs in UK open to ‘qualified’ Pinoys

Despite the worldwide recession, more than 150,000 jobs are being offered in the United Kingdom to foreign workers, including Filipinos, who will qualify under the new points-based system introduced in 2008 by the UK Border and Immigration System.

According to recruitment consultant Emmanuel Geslani, apart from marketing and public relations executives, teachers and healthcare workers like nurses and caregivers, Filipino professionals like scientists, environmental specialists, IT and telecommunications and social services workers are still in the wanted list by job recruitment specialists in the UK.

Geslani said the UK’s immigration system points-based scheme allows all qualified applicants to enter the UK under a managed immigration program with a five-tier system for all foreign nationals seeking to enter, or remain in the country.

“Highly skilled individuals like engineers, IT or marketing professionals is similar to the Highly Skilled Migrant program, which allows an applicant to apply for entry to the UK and the right to immigrate to the UK with full and free access to the employment market under the Tier 1 visa category,” he said.

This means a qualified applicants under the Tier 1 visa will be permitted to live and work in the UK, seek and undertake employment, establish a business, invest or be self-employed.

“One of the key benefits of the Tier 1 system is that you do not require a job offer to file for an application, it is your credentials that are assessed and if you have 75 points accumulated then you are qualified to apply for a Tier 1 visa,” Geslani said.

Points are based on age, experience, academic degrees like Ph.D or Masters, and present income of from 18,000-40,000 British pounds. Applicants must be proficient in the English language and can support oneself or any dependents without requiring public funds.

Teachers, nurses and engineers, meanwhile, may qualify under the Tier 2 work permit system, where a job offer is necessary to process the application or a sponsor that should be registered with the UK Border agency. –Michaela P. del Callar, Daily Tribune