Immigration rules: UK may hold back wages

In a move to further tighten immigration laws, which could affect countries like India, Britain is contemplating the compulsory withholding of wages to unskilled and semi-skilled migrant workers until their return home.

Employers would pay part of the wages of migrants on temporary work schemes into a bank account in their home country, which the workers could only access on their return.

An alternative scheme to ensure low-skilled people depart when their work permit runs out would force migrant workers to deposit a cash bond with British authorities, repayable only after they leave. The government was also considering auctioning work permits in areas where there are no skills shortages. Employers offering the highest figure would win a work permit.