The upcoming Immigration White Paper, released tomorrow in Parliament, will detail a significant policy shift: the government will cease recruiting care workers from abroad. This measure is a key part of broader government efforts to lower net migration, currently at historically high levels.
The contribution of international care workers to the UK has been substantial, yet many have experienced exploitation and abuse, including instances of unfair treatment, debt bondage, and even discovering that promised jobs were non-existent. The Home Office reported in March that over 470 care providers had their licenses to sponsor international staff suspended since 2022.
A plan to be announced on Monday, May 12th, will fully implement this recruitment halt. This action follows a crackdown on unethical care providers, resulting in the displacement of approximately 40,000 workers. The government intends to facilitate these displaced workers’ return to employment in the roles they were initially promised, alongside a long-term strategy to cultivate a homegrown care workforce through targeted training initiatives.
International care workers currently in the UK with valid work sponsorship will retain the ability to extend their visas, change employers, and apply for permanent residency, even if their initial sponsor’s license is revoked.
The government is actively addressing these challenges. The commitment to establishing Fair Pay Agreements will provide workers, employers, and industry representatives with a framework to negotiate better employment terms. This complements the January announcement expanding the Care Workforce Pathway, designed to professionalize the adult social care workforce.
These actions aim to reduce the UK’s reliance on overseas workers to meet its care needs. Baroness Casey’s independent commission on adult social care represents a unique opportunity to foster cross-party collaboration and shape the future of this crucial sector. The Immigration White Paper, released in its entirety tomorrow, reflects the government’s wider commitment to improve immigration system fairness, control, and order, ultimately aiming to reduce net migration and stimulate economic growth.
