UK Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has suggested businesses use more robots instead of hiring low-wage migrant workers. Instead of hiring low-wage migrant workers, he said, 'other countries are using more automation or robots for jobs like picking fruit and vegetables. Philip called for more investment in technology to reduce the UK's total immigration numbers.
Chris Phillips gives an example on the matter. He said, Australia and New Zealand have started using robotic and automated machinery to pick fruits and vegetables. South Korea uses 9 times more robots in the manufacturing process than us. And the US uses a much more modular structure, which is much faster and more efficient. There are many things in British industry which could be expanded, but which do not require the employment of many low-wage migrant workers.
In an unexpected press release last Wednesday, Conservative Party leader Kimi Badenoch said her party had made some mistakes on immigration. He pledged to review 'every policy, treaty and part of our legal framework', which would also include the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) and human rights law.
He said his party still believes in a 'deterrence' system for irregular immigration. But he did not promise to restore the Rwanda project that had been canceled by Labour.
Philip, on the other hand, called for the project to be restarted two weeks ago. He also said last Thursday that the Labor Party had 'cancelled the Rwanda project before it started.'
Note that the Rwandan immigration scheme was a controversial immigration policy of the UK government. In 2022, the Conservative government announced the plan for immigrants who came to the UK without permission. Its purpose was to deport refugees and migrants who had entered the UK illegally to Rwanda. There they can apply for asylum as refugees.
Conservative Party leaders have expressed differing views on immigration policy. Kemi Badenoch has promised to impose a 'hard numerical limit' on immigration. However, he will explain later how this number will be determined.
Chris Philip said the total immigration figure of 3,50,000 would be 'excessive', but he did not give a specific figure for the limit. He also said that the right migration system should be decided on how many highly skilled and highly paid people are needed, how many people are coming here to do the right degree course. Apart from this, eligibility for benefits for migrants will be verified.
References: The Guardian
