Fresh migration statistics were published yesterday morning, showing that health and care visas for foreign workers have almost doubled to 146,477 in the last year.
Family members joining their relatives via this route accounted for 73 per cent of the 279,131 work dependent visas that were granted in the year up to December 2023, new figures from the Home Office show.
It has also been revealed that one in four foreign care staff working illegally in different jobs and are breaking the rules of their visas.
Immigration barrister Paul Turner has slammed it as “outrageous”.
Speaking on GB News he said: “It is an outrageous abuse and sadly I think it’s been going on for quite a while and the Chief Inspector now David Neal has done a sterling job of exposing the shortcomings in the immigration system.”
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has however criticised the new visa laws that will ban foreign health and care staff from bringing family to the UK.
Ministers laid immigration rule changes in Parliament earlier this week, which include stopping overseas care workers from bringing dependents to the UK.
Khan called the sector’s workers the capital’s “unsung heroes” and warned the new plans will place an “already-stretched” NHS and social care system under more pressure.
Health and care visas for foreign workers have almost doubled to 146,477 in the last year
PA
Khan told The Standard: “London’s care sector workers are some of our capital’s unsung heroes, providing vital support to elderly, disabled and other vulnerable Londoners.
“These proposals would further undermine this critical sector and place the already-stretched NHS and social care system under even more pressure.
“These are the same key workers we relied on during the pandemic, who deserve to finish their working day and see their family.
“I am particularly concerned by the negative mental health impact these changes will have on separated parents and children.
“The Government needs to recognise the social and economic contribution of migrants and make it easier for them to come and work in the UK in sectors where their support is badly needed, not harder.”
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