LONDON: Goodbye Heathrow's Punjabi sweeper, as Britain has finally banned unskilled non-European Union (EU) workers from coming to work for the "foreseeable future".

The ban, suggested sotto voce when the British government first unveiled a controversial Australian-style points-based immigration system, was finally announced late on Wednesday.

The ban is expected to affect roughly 12,000 unskilled migrants from non-EU countries, mainly India, Pakistan and some African nations.

It is seen to be the biggest shake up to British immigration policy in 50 years.

British Home Secretary Jacqui Smith announced the ban as she laid out a tough-bitten plan for future British immigration to focus both on economics and the societal impact of a sustained, large-scale influx of culturally-disparate workers.

Smith said immigration policy cannot only be about economics but has to take into account the wider impact on society.

In an attempt to firm up the UK's new adherence to stronger "British values," Smith said immigration policy will hit out hard at forced marriages and apply stringent English-language tests to spouses of British nationals.

The Home Secretary's tough-talking came as immigration minister Liam Byrne announced that the points-based immigration system for skilled and highly-skilled workers would come into force exactly 100 days from now.

Byrne said potential migrants identified as "key contributors" to the UK economy would be in the top, desirable tier and would include people who work in "financial and public services, education and health, ICT and business". Non-EU nationals would henceforth have to pass a number of tests designed to ensure they can contribute to the UK economy.

In a further blow to an estimated 30,000 Indians who allege they have been suddenly deprived of the right to live and work in the UK despite holding Highly Skilled Migrant Programme visas, the minister said that HSMP visas would only be awarded on the basis of qualifications, age, previous salary or the amount of money earmarked to invest in the UK economy.

Non-European Union university graduates without a doctorate or a post-graduate qualification would need to prove they earned at least £40,000 a year to gain entry into the UK. Even highly-skilled applicants would henceforth need to pass an English-language test before gaining entry.