In a bold move, a newly formed Conservative group on the right wing of the party in the United Kingdom is advocating for the closure of temporary visa schemes for care workers.
Backed by prominent figures like former Home Secretary Suella Braverman and former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the group aims to reduce net migration before the upcoming presidential election.
Citing concerns over the influx of migrants, the group argues that the UK is grappling with accommodation and amenity challenges due to the arrival of 1.279 million more people than those who have left in the last two years.
This surge in migration has triggered worries among Britons, leading to calls for stricter immigration controls.
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Recent statistics revealed a record high net migration of 745,000 in 2022, three times higher than pre-Brexit levels, despite the Conservative Party’s 2019 manifesto pledge to decrease overall migration.
In response to the escalating numbers, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledged that net migration levels were “too high.”
The National Health Service Trusts added their voice to the concerns, stating that it is no longer sustainable to support social care with workers on visas.
The Home Office disclosed that 143,990 health and care worker visas were granted in the year ending September 2023, more than double the figure for the previous year.
Notably, the top three nationalities on these visas are Indians, Nigerians, and Zimbabweans.
Nigeria experienced a significant surge of 329% in dependents granted health and care work visas, reaching 45,203.
The increase is attributed to the attractive migration conditions offered by the UK, which faces a healthcare worker shortage due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
The statistics further highlighted that health and care work visas are the most common type for dependents entering the UK, driving the overall increase in immigration for those on work-dependent visas.
The temporary visa scheme allows medical professionals to work with the NHS or in adult social care, with visas lasting up to five years and being extendable.
As of March 2023, the number of Nigerian-trained doctors practicing in the UK has risen to 11,001, contributing to the unprecedented rise in non-EU immigration.
With the Conservative group’s proposal to close temporary visa schemes, the debate over immigration policies in the UK is poised to intensify, stirring discussions on the balance between managing migration levels and addressing critical workforce shortages in key sectors.
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