LONDON: Skilled Workers in the United Kingdom on work permits are set to receive greater flexibility under new employment rules that will allow them to work beyond the restrictions of their sponsoring employer.
According to foreign media reports, Skilled Worker visa holders will be able to work for other employers during the remaining validity of their existing visas. The new rules are scheduled to come into effect on October 8, 2026.
The changes are also expected to provide greater protection to migrant workers. Workers will be able to raise complaints against sponsors over issues including excessive working hours, passport retention and underpayment.
Under the revised arrangements, Skilled Workers will no longer be limited solely to employment with their sponsoring organisation during the remaining period of their visa, giving them greater freedom in the UK labour market.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan International Airlines Corporation (PIA) is expanding its flight services to London owing to high demand for air travel between Pakistan and the UK.
A PIA spokesman stated that starting from October 27, PIA will increase its London flights to seven per week by flying on a daily basis from Pakistan to London.
Of the seven weekly flights, five will operate from Islamabad to London, while two will operate between Lahore and London. PIA currently operates four weekly flights to London.
The airline said the increase is due to the high passenger confidence and growing demand for flights to the United Kingdom. These extra services will provide the overseas Pakistanis and other travellers with better travel opportunities.
This comes after the allocation of Heathrow slots, which used to be utilized by other international airlines, to PIA, allowing the national flag carrier to operate more flights between the two countries.
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