The UK government has announced it will end the visa route for overseas care workers. This move is expected to affect thousands of foreign nationals, including many Nigerians, who rely on this pathway for employment in the UK’s health and social care sector.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper revealed that the visa route would be phased out in the coming months. The change is part of a new immigration policy aimed at reducing migration and reshaping how the UK addresses workforce shortages.
The decision comes amid rising political pressure to bring down immigration numbers. In recent months, concerns have grown over the high number of low-skilled migrants entering the UK under the care worker visa scheme. Critics argue that the scheme has been abused by some employers offering poor working conditions or nonexistent jobs.
Flashback:
This is not the first time care worker visas have come under scrutiny. In late 2023, authorities raised alarms after investigations revealed that many workers were underpaid and trapped in exploitative arrangements. The government introduced stricter compliance checks at the time but stopped short of shutting down the scheme.
Now, the policy shift is firmer. Cooper described the visa route as a “failed free market experiment” that did not solve staff shortages but worsened exploitation. She said the country needs to “invest in British workers and fair wages” instead of relying on cheap foreign labor.
The government believes the changes could reduce the number of incoming migrants by around 50,000 annually. However, it has not provided a specific target for net migration. Cooper said net migration should “come down significantly more” than 500,000 per year.
The health and social care sector is already reacting. Many care providers warn that removing overseas recruitment without offering better funding or training locally could create a deeper crisis. Jane Townson, head of a major homecare association, asked, “Where will the workers come from if we don’t have the visa or proper investment?”
In response, Cooper said that the UK already has thousands of care workers on existing visas who should be properly placed in roles. She added that some of these workers came under questionable contracts or worked in poor conditions. The government plans to support better oversight and introduce a new “fair pay agreement” for care staff.
The broader immigration crackdown includes limiting skilled worker visas to graduate-level roles. Non-graduate visa options will be tied to time-limited jobs in sectors with urgent needs. While the impact on international students is expected to be softer than feared, universities will face tighter controls to enforce visa compliance.
This announcement follows strong local election results by an anti-immigration party now polling ahead of Labour. In response, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer promised to “restore control and cut migration,” claiming support for British workers through tougher rules.
However, critics say the government’s move is too little, too late. Some call the new plan “a minor tweak,” blaming years of inaction for the rising migration figures. Others demand a new Department of Immigration to oversee policy changes more effectively.
As this new policy unfolds, both care providers and migrant workers await clear guidance on how staffing needs and job security will be handled in the coming months.
