Adults who come to the UK are now expected to pass an English test, which could impact the ability of nursing homes to hire foreign staff. This new measure is part of a broader initiative aimed at “strengthening” the immigration system.
Amid rising calls for reform, the Prime Minister plans to announce on Monday that those arriving from abroad must commit to “learn our language” in efforts to fix the “broken system” believed to lure businesses into hiring “low-wage workers.”
Additionally, the government will alter the timeline for foreign workers regarding settlement applications, changing the automatic eligibility period from five years to ten.
This announcement coincides with a comprehensive immigration whitepaper set to be presented in Congress after the recent success of Nigel Farage’s party in local elections.
Plans are also in place to deport more foreign criminals. Employers will be informed that skilled workers entering the UK need to train local staff and have a degree.
Recent figures show net migration reached 728,000 in the year ending June 2024, soaring from over 900,000 under the previous Conservative government.
The Prime Minister is expected to state that “we gain more control” over all areas of immigration, emphasizing that “settlement is a privilege that must be earned, not a right.”
When foreign workers arrive, their adult dependents must pass the online English Level A1 test, which evaluates basic everyday language skills. For visa extensions, dependents need to clear the A2 test, and for settlement applications, a more advanced B2 test is necessary.
It’s likely that English language requirements for all immigration routes will become stricter in the future.
Interior Secretary Yvette Cooper mentioned that nursing worker visas would no longer be open to overseas recruitment under this new proposal.
According to BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, while care facilities do need support in staffing, they should focus on recruiting from those already in the UK rather than seeking outside help.
Cooper suggested that care companies should prioritize hiring from individuals already in the country and has refrained from setting specific net migration targets for the time being.
Currently, only foreign convicts sentenced to prison serve as a reportable factor to the Home Office, but under new plans, all convicted foreigners will be flagged, allowing for broader deportation powers.
The Home Office aims to classify foreigners on the Sex Offender Registry as having committed “serious crimes,” regardless of sentence length.
Other anticipated changes may involve tightening regulations on businesses that fail to demonstrate genuine efforts to recruit UK-based staff, particularly in sectors like engineering and IT.
Workplace visas are expected to have strict time limits for most non-graduate roles.
Foreign students who have completed their studies in the UK will encounter tougher regulations about staying after graduation.
Ministers plan to establish a labor market evidence group to assess sectors overly reliant on foreign workers and to promote investment in domestic skills.
As the government takes control of ten councils on May 1, they promise a significant reduction in migration, which remains a top priority for national voters.
In response to these proposals, Enver Solomon, CEO of the Refugee Council, voiced concerns, while Care England labeled the visa changes a “crushing blow” to the struggling sector. Unison connected the tough language around the changes to a “falling off the cliff” situation for care visa applications.
Care England’s CEO criticized the government for adding to the sector’s challenges, emphasizing that the NHS and care systems would have faltered without foreign workers over the years.
