By Ken Afor
The Government of the United Kingdom (UK) has commenced enforcement of a policy prohibiting care workers from bringing their family members into the country.
In a statement issued on Monday by the UK’s Home Office, the ban aims to reduce the number of legal migrants.
According to the statement, this will be the biggest cut in migration ever.
However, care workers in England who sponsor migrants will need to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the regulatory body for Health and Social Care. This requirement aims to address and prevent workers exploitation and abuse within the care sector.
The statement reads: “From today, care workers entering the UK on Health and Care Worker visas can no longer bring dependants. This is part of our plan to deliver the biggest ever cut in migration.
“Reforms to restrict care workers from bringing family members are now in force, while care providers are required to register if they are sponsoring migrants. New rules to radically cut net migration and tackle visa abuse are now in force as part of the government’s plan to bring down unsustainable levels of legal migration.
“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.
“It forms part of a wider package of measures, which is being implemented as soon as possible, which means a total of 300,000 people who were eligible to come to the UK last year would now not be able to do so.”
While appreciating the contributions of care workers in the UK, Home Secretary James Cleverly MP emphasized the necessity of taking action and measures in response to abuse and manipulation within the immigration system and unsustainable migration numbers.
He asserted that allowing such a situation to persist is neither morally acceptable nor fair.
He explained: “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.
“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.
“Our 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.
“These changes come into force as the government is set to lay rules in Parliament later this week (14 March) to prevent the continued undercutting of British workers, which 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.”
Similarly, the Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately MP, said: “International care workers make an invaluable contribution caring for our loved ones, but international recruitment and more immigration are not long-term solutions to our social care needs. These rules provide a more ethical and sustainable approach.
“We are boosting our homegrown workforce by reforming social care careers. These include the first ever national career path for care workers and a new care qualification.
“Our reforms will grow the domestic workforce and build on our success over the last year that saw more people working in social care, fewer vacancies and lower staff turnover.”
