UK's new immigration rules: Ban on hiring of care workers from abroad, automatic settlement after 5 years
The UK Government has introduced major reforms aimed at overhauling the "chaotic immigration system" in the country, which will include digital migrant monitoring and restrictions on care worker recruitment from abroad. The country will also tighten English tests for all visa applicants and their adult dependents.
One major reform is that the migrants will also have to wait 10 years to apply to settle in the UK. This will end automatic settlement in the UK after five years.
As per reports, the net migration hit a record 906,000 in June 2023, and last year it stood at 728,000.
The proposed plan to raise English language requirements will make it mandatory that every immigrant show basic language skills to find jobs and integrate. "When people come to our country, they should also commit to integration and to learning our language," Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said.
Though there could be changes in this norm, many feel this could split families if partners or parents struggle to learn English, according to the BBC.
The new measures will also see skills thresholds for work visas returned to degree level to reduce the number of lower-skilled workers coming to the UK. For occupations below this level, access to the immigration system will be strictly time-limited, granted only based on strong evidence of shortages. However, a "fast-track" system will be in place for nurses, engineers, AI experts and others who genuinely contribute to Britain's growth and society.
The other reforms include a digital ID system and e-visas for all foreign nationals to help the Home Office track migrants’ legal status and ensure adherence to visa regulations.
Another reform that could affect Indians includes a ban on recruiting staff from abroad, thereby requiring care providers to focus on employing individuals already living in the UK. This policy seeks to decrease reliance on foreign labour in the care sector and promote domestic workforce participation.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper told reporters that companies should recruit from a pool of people who came as care workers in good faith but had been “exploited” by unscrupulous employers. "Care companies should be recruiting from those workers. They can also extend existing visas. They could recruit as well from people who are on other visas, who are already here. But we do think it’s time to end that care worker recruitment from abroad," she said.
The government also plans to assess for deportation any foreign criminals who commit any crimes in the UK. Since the government took office, nearly 19,000 foreign nationals, including criminals and those without legal status, have been removed from the UK.
Besides, businesses that violate visa regulations, whether through worker underpayment or sponsorship misuse, will be banned from hiring foreign employees.
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