The UK government now requires care providers to hire care workers already in England before looking abroad. The new rules, introduced in Parliament on March 12, 2025, will take effect on April 9, 2025.
Care providers have to prove they tried hiring in England before looking overseas. The goal is to help care workers already in the UK stay in the sector while reducing reliance on foreign recruitment.
The government says this is part of a plan to fix immigration and help local workers.
Crackdown on Exploitation and Visa Abuse
The government is also stepping up efforts to stop worker exploitation. Authorities have canceled over 470 sponsor licenses since 2022 to stop worker exploitation. Additionally, care workers on Skilled Worker visas must now be paid at least £12.82 per hour, based on updated data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said the new rules would protect international care workers and ensure fair treatment.
Changes are also coming to the Short-Term Student visa route. This visa allows students to study English in the UK for 6 to 11 months, but officials say some people misuse it. Now, caseworkers will have more power to reject applications they believe are not genuine.
Impact on the Social Care Sector
Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, recognized the contributions of international care workers but stressed the need to stop exploitation. He said prioritizing those already in the UK would help them get back to work and reduce dependence on foreign hiring.
The government is also tightening legal migration rules. More details on future immigration policies will be shared in the upcoming Immigration White Paper.
For travelers looking to work in the UK’s care sector, these changes show how immigration policies are shifting toward ethical recruitment.
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