On 20 April 2021, Kevin Foster, Minister for Future Borders and Immigration, responded to a written question on migrant workers in the video games industry.
The question, which was asked by Labour MP for Leeds North-West, Alex Sobel, inquired as to what assessment the Home Office has made of the potential effect of a points-based immigration system on the video games industry in the UK.
This question was submitted by TIGA as part of our campaigning for a migration system that enables UK businesses to recruit highly skilled people.
Foster’s response stated that the Government’s new points-based system includes broadening the minimum skill level for the skilled work route and lowering the general salary threshold to £25,600.
According to the minister, this means many games industry jobs are eligible for the skilled work visa.
Foster concluded by saying that immigration is a key part of the Government’s long-term approach to rebuild our economy, support businesses to grow, and get people back to work.
You can read TIGA’s guide to the new immigration system here.
You can read the full response below.
Migrant Workers: Video Games
Home Office
20 April 2021
Alex Sobel: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether she has made an assessment of the potential effect of a points-based immigration system on the video games industry in the UK.
Kevin Foster: The points-based immigration system was developed following advice from the independent Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) who assessed evidence provided by many interested sectors of the economy. The new points based system includes broadening the minimum skill level for the skilled work route to RQF 3, equivalent to A levels, and lowering the general salary threshold to £25,600. Many games industry jobs are eligible for the skilled work visa, including computer games programmer and computer games tester. The new points-based system plays a key part in our long-term approach as the Government brings forward its strategy to rebuild our economy, support businesses to grow and get people back to work, with immigration policy being considered as part of our overall strategy for the UK Labour market, not in isolation to it.