As the United Kingdom experiences the highest migration numbers in the past nine months, the government is reportedly contemplating the closure of temporary visa schemes for care workers.
This consideration follows a call from the New Conservatives party, supported by figures like former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, urging ministers to terminate such visa schemes to curb net migration.
The Home Office revealed that in the year ending September 2023, 143,990 health and care worker visas were granted, more than double the figure from the preceding year.
The top three nationalities on these visas are reported to be Indians, Nigerians, and Zimbabweans, with Nigeria showing a significant percentage increase of 169%, following Zimbabwe and India.
Dependents granted health and care work visas from Nigeria surged by 329%, reflecting the substantial influx of healthcare workers attracted by the UK’s accessible migration conditions amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The rise in migration has put strain on accommodation and amenities, prompting concerns among the British populace.
UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged that net migration levels are “too high,” echoing sentiments expressed by a senior minister who deemed the record arrivals in the past year as “unacceptable.”
Revised estimates from the Office for National Statistics indicate that net migration into the UK reached a record high of 745,000 in 2022, three times higher than pre-Brexit levels, despite the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto pledge to reduce overall migration numbers.
On a related note, the National Health Service Trusts expressed the challenges of sustaining social care with workers on visas, highlighting the complexities and difficulties associated with the current migration landscape.
