Migrants from outside the European Economic Area will no longer be allowed to work in the UK as chefs in takeaway restaurants, the government has said.
The ruling comes after the Migration Advisory Committee (Mac) was asked to review the country’s skill shortages.
A similar ban will apply to workers such as hairdressers, beauty salon managers and estate agents from April.
The number of skilled migrants not from the European Economic Area is being capped annually at 21,700.
The Home Office has already announced that only graduate-level non-European Economic Area (EEA) workers will be allowed to apply to come to the UK.
Now it has reduced the list of jobs where there is a skills shortage in the UK to eight occupations, including senior care workers, sheep shearers and pipe welders, following advice from the the UK Border Agency’s Mac.
Chefs will need to have graduate-level qualifications, with a minimum of five years’ experience in an equivalent role, and need to earn at least of £28,260 per year after their accommodation and food.
Those from outside the EEA wanting to work in fast food outlets and takeaways will not be allowed in to the UK at all.
