LONDON, Feb. 19 (Xinhua) -- Britain will not grant visas to low-skilled workers under its newly unveiled immigration scheme after Brexit, the Home Office said on Wednesday.
The new system was about bringing "the brightest and the best" to the country, British Home Secretary Priti Patel told local media.
Patel said that the scheme intends to encourage people with the right talent and reduce the number of people coming into the country with low skills.
She added that the system would "make sure that we have a high-skilled, highly trained and highly productive economy in the future."
The plan is reportedly urging employers to "move away" from relying on "cheap labor" from Europe and invest in retaining staff and developing automation technology.
The Home Office said that European Union (EU) and non-EU citizens coming to Britain would be treated equally after the UK-EU free movement ends at the end of this year.
But the opposition Labour Party said the "hostile environment" will make it hard to attract workers.
The ruling Conservative Party has pledged to reduce overall migration to the country with an Australian-like points-based immigration system. One of the most important reasons behind the Brexit referendum results of leave is immigration.
