UK to end visas for care workers as part of immigration clampdown. - Financial Times

UK to end visas for care workers as part of immigration clampdown. - Financial Times

The UK government is set to implement a significant overhaul of its immigration policies, with a focus on reducing net migration. One of the key measures is the end of visas for care workers, as announced by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper. This move is part of a broader strategy to curb net migration and address labor market distortions.

Cooper, who is due to unveil the sweeping changes on Monday, has stated that high levels of immigration and a lack of training in the UK are creating "distortions" that are "undermining the economy." The new rules will prevent care homes from recruiting care workers from overseas, aiming to reduce the number of lower-skilled workers entering the UK by up to 50,000 over the next year.

The crackdown on visas for overseas workers has raised concerns that it could put overstretched care homes under threat of closure. Applications for Britain’s health and care worker visa have already seen a significant drop, from 129,000 in 2023-2024 to just 26,000 in 2024-2025 [1]. Age UK has warned that overseas recruits are "keeping many services afloat," and some care homes could be forced to shut if they cannot find alternatives, piling more pressure on NHS hospitals.

The new rules will require care companies to recruit from domestic workers or a pool of over 10,000 care workers in the UK with canceled sponsorships before hiring from abroad. Additionally, the government plans to introduce a new fair pay agreement for care workers to make care jobs more attractive to UK workers and reduce overseas demand [2].

Other measures included in the immigration white paper will involve plans for migrants to speak a higher standard of English to work in the UK and wait as long as 10 years before they can apply for indefinite leave to remain. Visa applications from nationalities considered most likely to overstay and claim asylum could also be restricted [1].

The Conservatives are expected to push for a vote at Westminster on capping the number of non-visitor visas that can be issued and disapplying the Human Rights Act in asylum and deportation cases. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp has called for an annual cap on migration, while Liberal Democrat Helen Morgan has criticized the government for not properly tackling the crisis in social care [1].

The impact of these changes on the care sector and the broader economy remains to be seen. While the government aims to address labor market distortions and reduce net migration, there are concerns that these measures could lead to staff shortages and increased pressure on the NHS. The new visa rules and pay agreements will be closely watched by industry stakeholders and the public alike.

References:
[1] https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/immigration-uk-migration-care-homes-labour-yvette-cooper-b2748706.html
[2] https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c626dyd8y8wo