Cross Party MPs To Write To Government Over Care Worker Visa Changes
Under reforms introduced as part of the government's flagship Immigration White Paper, the overseas care worker visa route will close (Alamy)
3 min read
A cross-party committee of MPs is set to write to the government expressing concern over what changes to immigration rules could mean for the social care sector.
Paulette Hamilton, who is acting chair of the Health and Social Care Committee, said she was worried that new restrictions could see the sector "tip over the edge".
Under reforms announced on Monday in the government's flagship Immigration White Paper, the overseas care worker visa route will close.
The change is part of the government's wider effort to bring down net migration and reduce the reliance of certain industries on workers from overseas.
The care sector has become increasingly reliant on overseas workers in recent years.
The decision by the former Conservative government led by Boris Johnson to relax visa rules following the coronavirus pandemic led to a sharp rise in the number of care workers coming to the UK from abroad.
However, even after this rise in overseas recruitment, there are estimated to be over 130,000 vacancies in the care sector, and the announcement on Monday has triggered warnings from care providers that homes will face even more acute staff shortages.
Labour MP Hamilton told PoliticsHome that she was concerned about what she described as a lack of joined-up thinking from the government.
"I am concerned that if the visa restrictions are imposed immediately, social care could tip over the edge," the MP for Birmingham Erdington said.
The committee is planning to write to the government on Wednesday, setting out its concerns and calling for ministers to publish an impact assessment of the changes.
The letter will also ask for reassurances to the care sector to ensure sufficient alternative measures will be in place to support providers to fill vacancies, including upskilling the domestic workforce and telling a more positive story about care work as a career.
It will also ask the government what other options were considered to reduce the number of care worker visas before the option of ending overseas recruitment was decided, as well as why these other options were not deemed sufficient.
"We have already got care homes handing back contracts to local councils, putting already struggling councils under even more pressure. If social care is unable to recruit staff to work within the sector, the problem is going to get worse," the MP said.
Hamilton said that the committee will also be asking for details on the implementation of the government's fair pay agreement for care workers, and whether this will be introduced before the visa changes come into effect.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Prime Minister Keir Starmer's official spokesperson sought to stress that there will be a three-year transition to allow the sector to adapt to the new migration rules.
They added that as part of this transition, thousands of workers who are already in the UK, having been promised care jobs, will be able to join the workforce.
The spokesperson also said that the government was taking steps to make the care sector a more appealing career for domestic workers.
“What we're also doing is investing in the sector, introducing a fair pay agreement to social care to recognise the work that social care professionals do and increase the viability of a career in social care, as that's the only sustainable way to ensure that we have a strong, domestic workforce," they said.
