Keele Research Repository

The latest changes in the UK government's managed migration policy with the introduction of a new Points-Based System have been recognized as privileging White European economic migrant workers – including those from Central and Eastern European (CEE) countries – at the expense of low-skilled (non-White) workers from outside of the European Union. However, analysis reveals that a series of recruitment and retention barriers may impinge upon the ‘effectiveness’ of such a strategy – particularly the intersection of CEE migrant ‘agency’ with labour market opportunities and UK immigration/welfare policies. In turn, a reassessment of the current approach to ‘managed migration’ is advocated.