The UK government is cranking up the pressure on foreign workers, hiking the minimum salary for skilled visas and imposing new curbs on family dependants and healthcare visas.
This five-point plan, unveiled by Home Secretary James Cleverly, aims to dramatically reduce net migration, which hit a record 745,000 last year.
Key changes:
- Skilled worker visa minimum salary jumps from £26,200 to a whopping £38,700.
- Health and care workers can no longer bring family members.
- Companies lose the perk of paying workers 20% less for jobs on the "shortage occupation list."
- Family visa minimum income threshold rises to match the new skilled worker visa salary.
- Migration advisor tasked with reviewing graduate visa route for potential "abuse".
Cleverly's justification:
"More than 300,000 people who came to the UK last year wouldn't be able to now." He insists it's about fairness, legality, and sustainability.
But concerns simmer:
- Labour slams it as chaotic and calls for a proper plan for training and recruiting Brits.
- Unions warn of "disaster" for the health and social care sectors, already heavily reliant on migrant workers.
- Latest data reveals the double-edged sword: health and care worker visas doubled in just one year, with 83,000 for care workers alone.
