Government Migration Plans
The government has announced plans to cut net migration through a number of changes, coming into effect in March and April 2024. Key announcements are summarised below, further information is available here.
- From March 11 2024, care workers and senior care workers will not be able to bring dependents to the UK.
- Care providers in England will now only be able to sponsor care workers and senior care workers if they are undertaking activities regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
- There will also be an increase in the annual immigration health surcharge from £624 to £1035. Health and Care visa holders are exempt from this.
- From 4 April 2024, the earning threshold for family visas will increase in increments up to £38,700 by early 2025. This applies to Skilled Worker visas but Health and Care visa holders are exempt from this.
- Illustrative scenarios of what the changes mean for current and future applicants can be found here.
In response to the government’s announcement, Dr Rhidian Hughes Chief Executive of the Voluntary Organisations Disability Group (VODG) says:
‘The plan announced today (4 December 2023) will further exacerbate existing recruitment and retention challenges facing social care services and disabled people who directly employ support.
‘While the current health and care visa system has its issues to address, it offers some much-needed help. Without long-term funding and workforce plans, it is unclear how the government proposes to address the additional pressure this policy change will inevitably have on an already overstretched sector.’
Further VODG activity on international recruitment
In September 2023 we wrote to the Migration Advisory Committee to share feedback from members on their experience of using the health and care visa system, the challenges presented and the opportunities for improvement. Members can read that feedback here.
In response to the new plans announced (December 2023) we responded as above as well as a member of the Care Providers Alliance, to voice concerns about the impact of these changes on our members, at the same time minimum wage rises are to be made without any extra funding being committed. You can read our CPA statement here.
As part of the Cavendish Coalition, a group of 36 public, third sector and independent health and social care organisations, we further shared concerns with relevant Ministers including the Prime Minister of the impact of these plans on a sector already struggling with low wages, high numbers of vacancies and increasing competition from other industries.
The Coalition previously wrote to the Prime Minister ahead of the Autumn Statement about the restrictions to the health and care visa and how difficult it would be for large parts of the NHS and some care providers to function without its international workforce.
We continue to gather case studies of the impact of these changes to inform our public affairs activity. Please email [email protected] with any examples you would like to share.