New rules for overseas care worker recruitment to take effect from April 9

New rules for overseas care worker recruitment to take effect from April 9! From April 9, care providers in England seeking to recruit new workers from overseas will be required to prove they have first attempted to hire workers already in the country who need sponsorship. This new rule is part of the government’s broader effort to reduce dependence on overseas recruitment and bring greater order to the UK’s immigration system through its Plan for Change.

A Shift Towards Domestic Recruitment

The UK government has been working closely with the care sector to ensure high standards in the immigration system while also providing support to care workers affected when their sponsor loses their licence.

The Plan for Change aims to address skills shortages by linking immigration policies with domestic training programs. The goal is to boost the UK’s workforce, reduce dependence on foreign workers, and support economic growth by strengthening the country’s skills development system.

Care worker recruitment

Crackdown on Visa System Exploitation

As part of its ongoing immigration reforms, the government is also targeting abuse of the Short-Term Student visa route.

This visa was originally intended for students taking English language courses lasting between six and eleven months. However, concerns have been raised that some applicants are using the visa for purposes other than studying and failing to leave the UK once their courses end.

To tackle this, the government is introducing tougher screening measures that will allow caseworkers greater discretion to refuse visa applications suspected of being non-genuine.

Minister Seema Malhotra on Protecting Care Workers

Seema Malhotra, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, emphasized the government’s commitment to protecting care workers from exploitation while ensuring fair employment practices.

“Those who have come to the UK to support our adult care sector should have the opportunity to do so, free from abuse and exploitation.

We have already taken action to ensure employers cannot flout the rules or exploit international workers by making them pay costs they were never meant to bear.

We are now going further by requiring employers to prioritise hiring international care workers who are already in the UK before looking overseas.”

This move follows action taken last year to crack down on employers abusing the visa system, including barring those who repeatedly violate immigration and employment laws from hiring foreign workers.

Ending Exploitative Sponsorship Practices

The government has also moved to stop companies from charging overseas workers for sponsorship costs, which has previously led to exploitation, financial hardship, and unsustainable debt in the care sector.

Between July 2022 and December 2024, the government revoked more than 470 sponsor licences in the care sector to address abuse and exploitation. Since October 2020, over 39,000 workers have been linked to these revoked sponsors.

New Minimum Salary Requirements for Care Workers

Another major change in the immigration system is the adjustment of minimum salary thresholds for care workers, aligning them with the latest data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Under these new regulations:

• Care workers on the Skilled Worker visa must be paid at least £12.82 per hour.
• Health and education occupations, such as doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, and teachers, will also see salary increases to reflect updated national pay scales.

Minister Stephen Kinnock on Valuing International Care Workers

Stephen Kinnock, Minister of State for Care, acknowledged the essential role international care workers play in the UK’s social care sector.

“International care workers play a vital role in our social care workforce. We value their contribution in supporting vulnerable people across the country every day.

As we crack down on rogue operators who exploit overseas workers, we must also do everything possible to help the victims get back into rewarding careers in adult social care.

Prioritising care workers already in the UK will reduce reliance on international recruitment while ensuring our social care sector has the skilled professionals it needs.”

Tackling Student and Graduate Visa System Abuse

The new regulations on care worker recruitment are part of a broader set of immigration reforms. The government is also implementing tighter controls on the Student and Graduate visa routes to prevent misuse of these visas by individuals looking to remain in the UK without legitimate study or work intentions.

Upcoming Immigration White Paper

Further details of the government’s strategy to curb legal migration will be outlined in the forthcoming Immigration White Paper. This paper will detail additional measures to ensure that immigration policy aligns with national skills development while addressing concerns over high migration levels.

Conclusion

The new recruitment rules for care workers represent a significant shift in UK immigration policy, prioritising domestic hiring while curbing exploitation and abuse within the system. The updated salary thresholds for care workers and healthcare professionals further emphasize the government’s focus on fair pay and employment standards.

As the government continues to implement strict immigration measures, the upcoming Immigration White Paper is expected to provide further insight into how the UK plans to reshape its workforce and reduce reliance on foreign labour in key sectors.