The UK Home Office announced on Monday that health and care workers are now prohibited from bringing dependents into the country. This is part of the new rules designed to radically cut net migration and tackle visa abuse.
According to the new rules, care workers will be restricted from bringing dependants, after a disproportionate 120,000 dependants accompanied 100,000 workers last year. Care providers in England acting as sponsors for migrants will also be required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC) – the industry regulator for Health and Social Care – in order to crack down on worker exploitation and abuse within the sector.
The new measures form part of a wider package, which is being implemented as soon as possible. This means a total of 300,000 people who were qualified to come to the UK last year would now not be able to do so.
UK’s Home Secretary, James Cleverly MP, spoke on the development, stating, “Care workers make an incredible contribution to our society, taking care of our loved ones in times of need. But we cannot justify inaction in the face of clear abuse, manipulation of our immigration system and unsustainable migration numbers.”
He added, “It is neither right nor fair to allow this unacceptable situation to continue. We promised the British people action, and we will not rest until we have delivered on our commitment to bring numbers down substantially.”
Cleverly further explained that their plan is robust but fair – protecting British workers while ensuring the very best international talent can work and study here, to add value to our society and grow the economy.
“There is clear evidence that care workers have been offered visas under false pretences, travelling thousands of miles for jobs that simply don’t exist or to be paid far below the minimum wage required for their work, exploiting them while undercutting British workers,” he said.
These changes come into force as the government is set to lay rules in Parliament later this week to prevent the continued undercutting of British workers. This includes raising the salary threshold that a skilled worker must meet in order to get a visa and removing the 20% ‘going-rate’ discount for migrant workers in shortage occupations.
