UK planning to lift work-hour limit during studies for foreign students

The UK government might increase the permitted work hours for international students and expand more part-time jobs to plug labor shortages in various sectors across the country. This report has come after the statement by British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, “ Businesses are crying out for workers.” 

Currently, international students are allowed to work for 20- hours a week during their term time. However, discussions have begun within the Government to raise this cap to 30 hours or remove it entirely to boost its economy. 

According to The Times, the Government has claimed that lifting the work hour limit for foreign students’ was “part of a swathe of ideas being considered,” adding that the idea is nascent. But what could put a spanner in the works is Home Secretary Suella Braverman’s plans to reduce the number of international students coming to the country.

However, the fact is that there are 1.3 million vacant posts, almost half a million more than before the pandemic. And international students can play a vital role in filling the jobs. The net migration numbers increased in the last few years. Last year, around 476,000 international students made it to the country, with India becoming the largest source of students by sending 161,000 students and 33,240 dependents. 

Similar action has been taken by the countries like Canada and Australia, where they have temporarily allowed students to work unlimited hours. A European country to follow suit is Finland, which has allowed its students to work 30 hours per week to curb the worker shortage. And considering the situation in the UK, one cannot deny the possibility.

The UK is facing a worker shortage, aggravated by Brexit and higher levels of economic inactivity after the pandemic. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has signaled his intent to boost the workforce to help tackle inflation as high vacancy levels drive up wages.

Moreover, the officials have said that further details on this will be set out in due course, adding, “We wouldn’t comment on speculation ahead of the completion of the Workforce Participation review.”