PCG Newsletter - 27 Feb 2002 - 10/02 -
Fast Track Visas
In this issue:
- Fast Track Visas Update
- Calling all Micro-processing Engineers
- PCG Members Survey
- Real Life Meetings
1. Fast Track Visas Update
The PCG has been campaigning for some time over the issue
of Fast Track Visas. This is the government's work permit
scheme which should be used by firms to plug skills gaps
but is actually being used to replace UK contractors and
workers. One contractor has said IR35 was about percentages,
FTV is about whether you have a job or not".
Members have been reporting to us for some time that the
work permits scheme was not being used to fill skills gaps
but was being used for skills replacement. We have set up
a form on the website for members and contractors to report
instances of abuse.
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/ftv/index.html
The cases poured in and earlier this month we handed over
the first tranche of cases to Work Permits UK, the government
agency responsible for administering the scheme, to investigate.
The Work Permits UK website is at
http://www.workpermits.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=1558.
We have been working closely with Work Permits UK and we
are now members of the Information Skills Sector Panel which
decides which skills are to be classified as in short supply
- Tier 1 shortages (more info at
http://www.workpermits.gov.uk/default.asp?pageid=2595).
Anyone with skills classified in the Tier One list is eligible
for an immediate work permit, as there is no need for anyone
to advertise the post or justify the permit.
At the October meeting of the panel, the PCG, together
with ATSCO, successfully argued to have this skills list
substantially reduced. Then at the January meeting we pushed
for further reductions. Specifically the PCG wants C/C++
and Oracle DBAs to be removed from the list. A final answer
is expected on this next week from Work Permits UK.
On February 14th the PCG handed over their dossier of alleged
abuse of the scheme to Work Permits UK, this was covered by
the Today Programme on Radio 4. Philip Ross explained to listeners
that 'UK workers were losing their jobs on the Friday only to
have their desks filled by foreign workers with permits on the
Monday morning'. Lord Rooker, the government Minister for the
scheme asked for evidence that the scheme is being abused and
Philip Ross said the dossier was being sent in that day. Philip
warned any companies abusing the scheme that the PCG was working
closely with 'Work Permits UK' to stamp out any abuse. You can
listen to a realaudio recording of this on the BBC's web site
at
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cgi-bin/radio4/today/listen/audiosearch.pl?ProgID=1013688560.
An article also appeared on the Radio 4 web site and in
the business section of BBC on-line,
http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/today/reports/politics/visas.shtml
and
http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/business/newsid_1820000/1820005.stm.
It is believed that one reason that FTV permit workers are
cheaper is that they are not paying adequate taxes in the
UK. The Inland Revenue's rules state that if workers stay
in the UK for 6 months or less they are not eligible to
pay UK taxes.
http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/cnr/faqs_general.htm#11
This is because workers will tend to pay taxes on this income
in their home country. However firms bringing workers in
from India will find that they do NOT have to pay taxes
back home. New tax rules there state :-
Profits derived from export of software (including
some of IT Enabled services) are exempt from Income Tax
under Section 80HHE of the Income Tax Act.
(http://www.siliconindia.com/itindia/article_detail.asp?article_id=186&category_id=100).
Since the broadcast of the piece on Radio 4, the issue
has been covered by much of the IT trade press. As a consequence,
the PCG have received evidence for over 75 more cases which
in due course we will be submitting for investigation. We
will continue to work closely with Work Permits UK.
If anyone would like to submit details of how the scheme
is being abused then email us at [email protected] or fill
in our form at
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/ftv/index.html
There is growing evidence too that many of the workers
coming in are not being paid proper rates. Some firms are
putting UK workers out of jobs, profiteering from the scheme
and exploiting the workers that they do bring in. We would
also like to hear from permit workers themselves if they
feel they are being exploited. Contact us as above.
2. Calling all Micro-processing Engineers
The PCG has been invited to submit evidence to the House
of Lords Science and Technology Committee for their new
enquiry into innovations in micro processing.
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldinfo/ld16sctk/ld16sctk.htm
We would like to ask members if they would like to co-operate
with this. Anyone with expertise in this field who would
be interested helping the PCG to prepare a submission please
email us on [email protected]
The questions being asked by the committee are as follows:
"Matters on which evidence is invited
Incremental refinements to existing microprocessor technology
(coupled with improvements in architecture and software)
continue to yield remarkable increases in computing speed.
However, better approaches may be available and, if the
demand for ever greater speed continues, will be needed,
as the physical limits of present technologies are reached.
The Sub-Committee would welcome comments on the matters
outlined in the preceding paragraph and, in particular,
on the following questions.
a. What are the main drivers for increasing computer speed?
Is there any reason to expect that the demand for increasing
speed will abate?
b. What are the physical limits to the speed of processing
based on present techniques? When are these limits likely
to be reached?
c. What are the most promising alternative techniques and
technologies for achieving ever greater processing speeds
over the next 15 to 20 years? What expertise does the United
Kingdom have relevant to these?
d. Are there significant rôles for the United Kingdom
in future developments? What international collaborations
would be beneficial? What actions should be taken by the
Government (through innovation policies and otherwise),
publicly-funded research bodies and the private sector?"
3. PCG Members Survey
So far there has been an excellent response to the members
survey, but we´d like more! We are especially interested
in hearing from newer members, and those members who are
less active in the PCG. The survey will only take a few
minutes to complete online.
http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?ID=Q86E3YGCTGV6&PIN=KYLLM9QL5XW4.
REGIONAL NEWS
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Real Life Meetings
For the latest information and to start a local group see
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f=meet
To promote your local meet through the newsletter
email [email protected]
with REGIONS in the subject matter, details of the
event and a name and email contact point/or phone number
for further information.
Wokingham
***********
Thursday 28th February
The Ship
Time: from 7:30
Contact: [email protected]
or check: www.adb-enterprises.com/pcg_tv.html
Welwyn
**********
Date: Thursday 28th February 2002
Time: 7:30 pm onwards
Venue: The White Horse, Mill Lane, Welwyn
West Midlands
**********
Date: Thursday 7th March 2002
Time: 7.00 pm
Venue: Rose & Crown, Junction 3 of M42
[email protected]
New Groups
**********
Anyone interested in a meeting in Rugby, Den Haag or Brighton
should follow the link below
https://www.pcgroup.org.uk/threads/wwwthreads.pl?a=l&f=meet
Alison Edwards
(PCG Executive Team)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * *
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