On 21 August 2002, after a year of leading the campaign to have
the work permits system overhauled, the PCG convinced the Government
to remove all "shortage occupations" from the IT skills
shortage list.
PCG is not opposed to the issuing of work permits when there are
genuine skills shortages which can not be met from within the resident
labour market. However the issuing of visas for IT skills continued
long after real shortages ended, and has contributed to the current
high levels of unemployment and contractors unable to find work.
PCG will continue to work with Work Permits UK and other interested
parties to ensure that the remaining routes for issuing "fast
track visas" are not abused.
PCG is now particularly concerned about the use of "Intra-
Company Transfers" (ICTs) and is campaigning to have this system
tightened up also.
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