In a bold and controversial move, the UK Government has unveiled sweeping changes to its visa regulations for care workers, aiming to reduce its reliance on overseas recruitment and prioritise those already residing within its borders.
The new measures – announced in Parliament and set to take effect from April 9, this year – mark a dramatic shift in the nation’s immigration landscape and come as a response to longstanding concerns over exploitation in the care sector.
At the heart of the reform is a requirement that care providers must now prove they have made genuine efforts to recruit international care workers already living in England before seeking to hire from abroad.
Minister of State for Care, Stephen Kinnock, emphasised that “as we crack down on rogue operators exploiting overseas workers, we must also ensure victims of exploitation can rebuild their careers in adult social care.”
This move is designed not only to curb the perceived over-dependence on foreign labour but also to safeguard vulnerable workers from further abuse by unscrupulous employers.
The new policy is part of a broader agenda that sees the government tightening visa regulations across multiple sectors. The Home Office stated that, in addition to the care sector, stricter rules would now apply to short-term student visas.
Foreign nationals intending to study English in the UK for six to 11 months will face enhanced scrutiny, with care workers empowered to reject applications deemed suspicious.
Officials have raised concerns that some applicants might be using the system to remain in the UK unlawfully, exploiting loopholes in the visa framework.
In a further bid to recalibrate the immigration system, the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas is being raised from £23,200 to £25,000 per annum (or £12.82 per hour).
This adjustment is intended to ensure that wage requirements remain in line with the rising minimum wage and evolving economic conditions, thereby reinforcing the idea that only well-paid, high-calibre professionals should be granted access under the points-based system.
The government insists that this update will help to maintain fair competition between domestic and overseas workers while addressing wage disparities that have long plagued the sector.
The latest reforms come on the heels of a series of stringent enforcement measures aimed at curbing exploitation in the care industry.
Between July 2022 and December 2024, more than 470 sponsor licenses were revoked after repeated breaches of immigration rules were detected.
