Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has urged the Government to allow social care providers to extend care workers' visas without facing ‘crippling' Home Office fees, to avoid making the crisis in social care even worse.
The call comes as new research by the House of Commons Library, commissioned by the Liberal Democrats, has revealed that under the Conservative Government the number of care workers from overseas rose by two-thirds in just two years, from 233,700 in 2021/22 to 387,900 in 2023/24.
It now means that 27% of all care workers are from overseas, up from 17% in 2021/22.
The party is also calling for a new, higher Carer's Minimum Wage – set at £2 an hour above the national living wage – to boost recruitment and retention of care workers in the UK, as well as arguing for health and care providers to be exempt from the Government's National Insurance hike.
Under the plans in the Government's immigration white paper, care providers will be able to apply until 2028 to extend their workers' visas, but will have to pay the Home Office's Immigration Skills Charge, which the Government is raising to £1,320 for each worker per year of their visa. This means a five-year extension for just one care worker would cost their employer £6,600 upfront. The Liberal Democrats are calling on the Government to waive this fee for NHS and care staff.
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Ed Davey said: ‘Social care is in crisis, with millions of people missing out on the care they need because there aren't enough care workers. Liberal Democrats have been pushing for a higher Carer's Minimum Wage to tackle this crisis, but the Conservative Government made a deliberate choice to bring in low-paid workers from overseas instead of paying carers properly.
‘Imposing crippling Home Office fees on top of the Government's misguided jobs tax will just make the crisis even worse, pushing many care homes to the brink and leaving our loved ones in the lurch.
‘People who have moved to the UK to look after our elderly and disabled people are doing tough jobs and helping to keep our NHS on its feet. They should be thanked for their contribution, not demonised.'
