The Government are continuing to clampdown on immigration with the ultimate aim of reducing net migration into the UK. As part and parcel of its proposals, from 9 April 2025, care providers have been required to prioritise recruitment from workers in the UK before considering sponsoring international migrants. Care providers are now required to demonstrate that they have attempted to employ workers from within the UK, specifically candidates who are already seeking new visa sponsorship opportunities. The Government’s stated policy is to support international care workers who are already in the UK to have the opportunity to continue working in the adult social care sector and the policy also ties in with the Government’s further stated aim of reducing the UK’s reliance on international recruitment whilst at the same time strengthening the UK’s skills base.
There are a number of avenues employers can employ including prioritising domestic UK recruitment first and this can include advertising jobs in the UK. Employers must also ensure that care workers are not exploited or forced into paying for their visa sponsorship and the Home Office is continuing to clampdown on what they consider to be unscrupulous employers and there is clear evidence that they are targeting care providers who they consider are flouting immigration and employment laws. The net effect of this is that those care providers holding sponsor licences can find that their licences are revoked and therefore effectively preventing them from employing international care workers.
The Home Office have also updated the minimum salary threshold and the new minimum salary for care workers on skilled worker visa’s is £12.82 per hour.
Employers who are already sponsoring international workers must ensure that going forward, they prioritise recruitment of domestic workers seeking new sponsorship opportunities and they must also be able to demonstrate to the Home Office that they are seeking to hire from within the UK before considering international workers. It goes without saying that care providers will need to continue to treat international workers fairly and also ensure that they are not being charged for the cost of their sponsorship as engaging in such practices can mean that the Home Office take action against them and such action will not necessarily only be limited to revoking their sponsor licence.
For advice on this or any other immigration issue, please do not hesitate to contact Sohan Sidhu.
