The government has recently implemented new migration laws for visas aimed at curbing the number of care workers who bring their family members with them when they come to work in the UK. These new rules also require care providers to register if they are sponsoring migrants.
The main objective of these new policies is to significantly reduce net migration and address the issue of visa abuse, which the government believes has led to unsustainable levels of legal migration.
To achieve this goal, care workers will no longer be allowed to bring their dependants with them. This decision was based on the fact that, last year, a disproportionate number of dependants (120,000) accompanied care workers (100,000) on this route.
These new measures are expected to have a significant impact on the number of migrants coming to the UK and will help the government to achieve its long-term migration goals.
Care Quality Commission(CQC)-Must register
As part of these measures, care providers in England who sponsor migrants will now be required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the industry regulator responsible for ensuring that healthcare providers meet the required standards of care.
This move is aimed at improving the quality of care delivered to migrants and reducing the risk of abuse and exploitation within the sector.
The new measures are part of a comprehensive package of reforms being implemented by the government to tackle illegal immigration and reduce the number of people who are able to enter the UK.
As a result of these measures, approximately 300,000 people who were eligible to come to the UK last year will now be unable to do so. While these measures may cause some disruption, they are necessary to ensure that the health and social care sector is a safe and welcoming environment for all, regardless of their background or country of origin.
According to Home Secretary James Cleverly
Care workers are an indispensable part of our society, providing compassionate care and support to our loved ones in their time of need. They work tirelessly to ensure that those in their care receive the best possible care, often going above and beyond what is expected of them.
However, despite their valuable contributions, some care workers have been subjected to abuse and exploitation, which is unacceptable. Our immigration system has been manipulated to allow unsustainable migration numbers, and this must be addressed. We cannot allow this situation to continue, and we must take action.
As promised to the British people, we have developed a plan that is both robust and fair. Our aim is to protect British workers while also attracting the best international talent to work and study in our country. We believe that this will help to add value to our society and grow the economy.
Unfortunately, there is clear evidence that some care workers have been offered visas under false pretences. They have travelled thousands of miles for jobs that simply do not exist or have been paid far below the minimum wage required for their work.
This exploitation of care workers not only harms them but also undermines the wages of British workers. It is our duty to put an end to this practice and ensure that care workers are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve.
20% going rate discount no more
The new rules will be presented in Parliament on 14 March. One of the significant changes is the increase in the minimum salary threshold that a skilled worker must meet to obtain a visa. Additionally, the 20% discount for migrant workers in shortage occupations will be removed. These changes are aimed at protecting the rights of workers and ensuring that they are not taken advantage of by their employers.
Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately’words
International care workers play a crucial role in taking care of our loved ones. However, relying solely on international recruitment and immigration is not a sustainable solution to meet our social care needs. To address this issue, we are implementing new rules aimed at providing a more ethical and long-term approach.
We are prioritising the development of our domestic workforce by reforming social care careers. This will include introducing the first-ever national career path for care workers and a new care qualification. Our goal is to increase the number of people working in social care, reduce vacancies, and lower staff turnover.
Through these reforms, we aim to grow the domestic workforce and build on our success over the last year. By doing so, we can ensure that our loved ones receive the best possible care while also providing stable and rewarding career opportunities for our citizens.
Student visa abuse
The UK government is taking steps to ensure that the graduate route for international students is not misused and operates in the best interest of the country. To this end, the Home Secretary has commissioned a review that will focus on maintaining the quality of UK higher education and attracting the most talented students to the country.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) will be responsible for ensuring that the demand for the graduate route is appropriate and targeted towards the brightest individuals. Since its establishment, the graduate route has granted 175,872 visas and has been a crucial component in attracting international students to the UK.
However, there are concerns that international postgraduate students are attending institutions with the lowest UCAS entry requirements, which has increased by over 250% between 2018 and 2022, according to the MAC’s analysis.
This trend has raised concerns, and the review seeks to address these issues. The review follows the recent reforms to student visas, which came into Effect in January and ended the ability of most postgraduate students to bring their dependents to the UK.
The government expects to see a significant reduction in student dependent applications this year, and early indications show that this trend is already in place. The government is committed to ensuring that the UK remains a destination of choice for international students while maintaining the quality of higher education and safeguarding the country’s interests.
Shortage Occupation List (SOL) will be abolished
The UK government has recently made some significant changes to its immigration policy, with the aim of ensuring that the country is not overly reliant on foreign workers and to help reduce the burden on public services.
Effective from April 4th, the Shortage Occupation List (SOL), which outlines the roles that are in high demand but short supply, will be abolished. It will be replaced by the Immigration Salary List, which will only include skilled roles that are genuinely in demand, and will not reduce pay or undermine recruitment of British workers.
The government has made it clear that no sector should be permanently reliant on immigration, and that the new policy will help to ensure that the UK economy is shaped by highly-skilled individuals who can contribute to its growth.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has recommended these changes and has also advised the government on which occupations should be temporarily added to the new list initially.
From April 4th, the minimum salary requirement for Skilled Worker visa applicants will increase from £26,200 to £38,700 – a 48% increase.
This increase is expected to reduce the number of low-skilled migrants and prevent employers from recruiting cheap labour from overseas, which will ultimately help to protect and support British workers.
The government’s new approach will prioritise highly-skilled individuals who can add value to the UK economy, while encouraging employers to invest in training and upskilling their workforce, and recruiting more domestic workers.
These changes are intended to create a more sustainable and self-sufficient UK economy that benefits everyone.
Hard to bring family
The UK government has recently announced some changes to immigration and social care policies. The minimum income requirement for family visas is set to increase from £18,600 to £29,000, starting from 11 April, and will further rise to £38,700 by early 2025.
This move is aimed at ensuring that those who come to the UK as dependants are financially supported. It is also important to note that the government is not relying on immigration to meet the long-term social care needs of the country.
Instead, the Department for Health and Social Care is leading a programme of work to strengthen and expand the domestic social care workforce. This includes providing better training, clearer career paths and improved job prospects through a new accredited qualification.
Furthermore, the government is taking significant steps to address unemployment through the Department for Work and Pensions’ £2.5 billion Back to Work plan.
This is one of the largest employment interventions in a generation and aims to help 1.1 million people who are long-term unemployed, long-term sick or disabled to overcome barriers to work.
With these initiatives, the government is working to create a more robust and self-sufficient social care system and to provide better employment opportunities to those who need it the most.
Sources from: Home office UK
