The British government has introduced a new post-Brexit points-based immigration system to come into force at the start of 2021. According to the new Australian-style point-based system unveiled on Wednesday by the Boris Johnson government, both EU and non-EU citizens will be treated equally and must gain 70 points under the new rules to be eligible to apply for a work visa. Points will be awarded for the job offer, academic qualification, ability to speak English and level of salary. The UK government’s 13 pages point-based immigration system policy statement released to media states that From January 1, 2021, free movement for EU citizen will end, however EU citizens can come to the UK for six months without a visa, but they won’t be able to work without a job offer and 70 points. Under the new rules those who can’t speak English and low unskilled workers would not be able to come to the UK for work meaning that factories, warehouses, hotels and restaurants will be short of cheap labour as most their manpower comes from the EU countries. Similarly, there will be no route for self-employed people coming into the UK, ending the route for those plumbers or builders arriving without a job from Poland or Romania. The policy document states that anyone wanting to come to the UK to work must have a job offer with a salary threshold of £25,600, lower from £30,000 which was previously required. Furthermore, salary of £20,480 will be acceptable in special cases where the job is on shortage skills list of Home Office, such as in nursing. One of the features of the new policy is that now no cap on the number of people who can come through the skilled worker route. Similarly, the skills threshold for foreign nationals wanting to work in the UK will be lowered from degree to A-levels or their equivalent. However, the new policy drew immediate criticism from liberal media, main opposition parties, industry and union leaders across the country. Daily Independent editorial claims that the Tories’ new immigration policy will be a disaster for the economy. Opposition Labour party shadow home secretary Diane Abbott said the government did not appear to have thought through what the effects of this policy will be on the economy as a whole and what message it sends to migrants already living and working here. Liberal Democrat home affairs spokeswoman Christine Jardine said the proposals were based on “xenophobia” While Scotland’s First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon said the plans would be “devastating” for the Scottish economy. Employers say that low skilled jobs are vital for the UK economy and predicating storages of care workers, agriculture and fishery staff in the coming days.