The UK government has announced a significant shift in its immigration policy, unveiling plans to ban the overseas recruitment of care workers as part of a broader effort to reduce net migration. According to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, it's "time to end care worker recruitment from abroad," and new rules will require care providers to prioritize hiring British workers or extend visas for those already in the UK.
This policy change aims to cut the number of low-skilled migrants, particularly in the care sector, by up to 50,000 over the next year. The move comes in response to persistently high migration figures, which reached a record 906,000 in the year to June 2023 and remained high at 728,000 last year.
The new rules will have a significant impact on the care sector and beyond. Some of the key changes include:
- Raising the threshold for skilled worker visas to graduate level, up from the current A-level standard
- Reducing the number of roles eligible for temporary shortage occupation visas
- Narrowing the Immigration Salary List, which currently includes roles like carpenters, graphic designers, and pharmaceutical technicians that qualify for discounted visa rates
- Introducing new training requirements to encourage more UK residents to re-enter the workforce, especially in sectors like social care.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp welcomed the care worker visa ban but criticized the overall plans as insufficient. He called for an annual cap on migration and said the Conservatives would push for a vote in Parliament this week. While Philp did not specify a figure, he said the proposed cap would go "significantly beyond" the 50,000 reduction expected under the current measures.
*Impact on the Care Sector*
The care sector will be significantly impacted by these changes, with care providers required to adapt to the new rules and prioritize hiring British workers. This may lead to a shift in recruitment strategies and a greater emphasis on training and developing existing staff.
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