UK to End Overseas Hiring in Immigration Overhaul

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The UK government will end care worker recruitment from abroad this year, signalling a Care Worker Recruitment Ban as part of a broader immigration reform. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the new direction on Sunday, saying firms must now recruit British workers or extend existing foreign workers’ visas.

The government plans to cut migration by restricting visas for lower-skilled roles. Cooper explained the shift is necessary to reduce net migration without setting official targets. Instead, ministers will implement firm rules to achieve meaningful cuts, enforcing the Care Worker Recruitment Ban.

The new policy aims to lower net migration by 50,000 people in one year, which directly relates to the Care Worker Recruitment Ban. This move follows record migration levels, which peaked at 906,000 in June 2023 and dropped to 728,000 by mid-2024.

Changes will also affect how firms hire for short-term shortages. The current Immigration Salary List allows employers to hire overseas workers in fields like carpentry and pharmaceuticals at discounted wages. Cooper said the list will soon narrow, but she did not name specific sectors.

Alongside visa reforms, new training initiatives will aim to bring more domestic workers into care roles. Employers must now show they tried to hire locally before turning abroad, particularly under the Care Worker Recruitment Ban. Cooper emphasized that the UK has a large inactive labor force that should be prioritized.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp called the proposals “too little.” He agreed with ending overseas recruitment for care but wants a formal cap on total migration. Philp revealed that Conservatives will push for a vote on the cap this week.

Cooper also discussed plans to reform international student policies. Graduates can still work in the UK, but universities must improve standards and compliance. Many schools, she said, failed to track whether students completed courses or overstayed visas.

The care visa scheme has already been restricted. In August 2023, 18,300 care visa applications were recorded. By April 2024, this number fell to 1,700. The ban on bringing dependants led to that sharp drop, influenced by the Care Worker Recruitment Ban.

Cooper promised a new “fair pay agreement” for care workers. The plan aims to make care jobs more attractive to UK citizens and reduce reliance on foreign labor.

For more updates, visit London Pulse News.

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