New Home Secretary & Another Knee-Jerk Reaction To Immigration Policy

What Is The Five Point Plan?

James Cleverly has unveiled a set of initiatives, described as a "five-point plan", aimed at reducing the influx of migrant workers and their dependents into the UK. These measures are intended to create greater challenges for employers seeking to bring in foreign staff, impacting various sectors, including the NHS and social care.

At this stage, we will need to read the details which will be set out in a new set of Immigration Rules which will come into force in Spring 2024 (this could be at any time from March next year). What do we know of the UK Government’s intentions for now:

• There will be a tightening of the health and care visa by preventing those who have been granted care worker visas from bringing their dependents to the UK

• Care providers will only be able to sponsor migrant workers if they are undertaking activities regulated by the Care Quality Commission

• The earning threshold for overseas workers being sponsored under the Skilled Worker visa  will increase from £26,200 to £38,700

• Increasing the minimum income for citizens and settled people who want family members to join them. This will increase from the current £18,600 to £38,700

• The Government will end the 20% going rate salary discount for shortage occupations and replace the shortage occupation list with a new ‘immigration salary list’ which will retain a general threshold discount

• The Migration Advisory Committee has been tasked to review and reduce the number of occupations that will appear on the new list

• Those coming on the Health and Care visa route will be exempted from the increase to the salary threshold for Skilled Worker visas as will those on national pay scales, for example: teachers, opticians, pharmacists etc.

• The Migration Advisory Committee has been tasked to review the Graduate visa to ensure it is working in the UK’s interests

Is There A Prioritised Need?

The next set of Office for National Statistics figures concerning migration are due to be published August 2024, and one could argue that these figures will show that net migration is reducing over time, without the need for the newly announced changes. For example, the new figures will no longer show migration because of the war in Ukraine or the visas issued to Hong Kong nationals. Moreover, the significant increase in the Immigration Health surcharge from January 16 2024 will likely have a significant impact on those wishing to apply to come to the UK on personal visas.

There has been a lack of consultation before these proposed changes, and it is important that if the Migration Advisory Committee open up the work that they have been tasked with, businesses attend a consultation that particular industry sponsors or accredited industry bodies of sponsors respond, by highlighting the potential impact on your business and sector.