Indian IT companies can transfer staff to Britain

Tuesday, 29 October 2002, 20:30 IST
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BANGALORE: Indian IT companies can still transfer their employees to their British offices without any hassles, said Stephen Timms, Britain's e-commerce minister. But there would still be some restrictions on IT professionals seeking jobs in British companies as "they would have to show why they need foreign workers", he said, speaking during Asia's largest IT show BangaloreIT.Com here Monday. "Let me provide some reassurance here. What has happened is that, following a regular review of our shortage occupation list, IT skills has been removed from that list," Timms said. "That means we no longer have an overall shortage of IT skills in the U.K. But of particular importance to Indian IT companies operating in the U.K. is that you can still use the intra company transfer facility to post your own experienced employees to your U.K. offices exactly as before," he said. "We will review the situation in three months," he told reporters at the IT Nation pavilion, where his country has taken a large space to showcase opportunities with British companies and investment in the country. Last year, Britain issued 130,000 work permits, of which 26,000 were Indians. These included IT professionals, nurses and doctors. "This year, we expect 170,000 work permits to be issued and the percentage will be maintained from India," Mick Seals of Work Permits, Britain, said.
Source: IANS