Unions and caregivers have expressed concerns about the government’s decision to close visa routes for overseas care workers, arguing that it jeopardizes vital services.
The recently released immigration whitepaper outlines a ban on new international recruitment for caregiving roles, aiming to cut legal migration and prioritize local workers.
This decision has drawn significant criticism from industry leaders and trade unions, who claim the sector is already overstretched and heavily relies on international staff to function effectively.
Professor Martin Green, CEO of Care England, stated that the government is further harming an already struggling sector.
“For years, we have been managing with fewer resources, higher costs, and more vacancies,” he explained.
He added that while international recruitment wasn’t a comprehensive solution, it provided crucial support. “It’s shortsighted to make this move without adequate warning, funding, or alternatives,” he noted.
Unison, the largest union representing health and care workers in the UK, also condemned the decision and called for clear communication regarding its impact on current employees.
Unison’s general secretary, Christina McAnea, emphasized the need for reassurance for existing immigrant staff. “Those working here need to know their status,” she said.
She criticized the government’s framing of care work as “skilled yet low,” urging officials to make fair pay contracts a genuine priority.
In 2023, more than 58,000 overseas care workers entered the UK on skilled worker visas, which accounted for nearly half of all new entrants in the sector.
The Labour Party defends this policy as part of a broader immigration overhaul, which aims to lessen reliance on foreign labor and enhance investment in the local workforce.
Interior Secretary Yvette Cooper, speaking during a BBC interview, supported the policy, suggesting that employers should focus on recruiting from the existing pool of care workers in the UK, including those on visas who are not currently employed.
“They can also extend their existing visas and recruit from others already here on different visas,” she explained. “However, I believe it’s time to stop relying on new care workers from abroad.”
