An influential group representing professionals from India and other non-European Union countries will challenge the temporary annual cap of 24,100 to be announced by Home secretary Theresa May on Monday.
Amit Kapadia, director of Highly Skilled Migrant Programme (HSMP) Forum that fought a successful legal challenge against immigration rules, said the government’s move to impose an “illogical” cap will be opposed.
“Any such cap will affect Indian professionals because most non-European Union migrants to the UK come from India. But we will oppose and lobby against any illogical number or cap that the government may seek to impose,” he said.
Placing the cap at 24,100 between now and April 2011 means that British employers will not be able to employ any Indian and other non-EU professionals once the limit is reached.
Indians have been among the largest group of professionals recruited in the IT, medicine, education and services sector every year.
Kapadia said any knee-jerk attempt to impose a cap will hurt the British economy and will be opposed by British business and industry.