Financial Times reports that lobbying efforts by lawyers and businesses led to a relaxation of the UK’s points-based immigration system posting requirement. British companies seeking to fill senior-level positions with salaries over £130,000 no longer are required to advertise the positions in local Jobcentres. However, companies must continue to advertise via other UK media.

In addition, the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which oversees the points-based system, declined to ban intra-company transfers in which businesses bring in overseas staff. Unions had pushed for a ban, but officials believed that preventing foreign companies from relocating staff to the UK would negatively impact investment in Britain.

Rules for the points-based system are being tightened in other respects. The MAC recently recommended that the required posting period for jobs with salaries above £40,000 be increased fourfold, from one week to four weeks. Also, starting salaries of skilled non-EU workers without formal qualifications must be at least £32,000, up from £24,000; for qualified workers the starting salary increased from £17,000 to £20,000. Although the number of skilled non-EU workers coming to the UK has decreased recently, the new changes are expected to produce a further 10% cut.