The embattled Conservative government in Britain has unveiled a series of measures aimed at addressing the issue of record-high migration, a crucial focal point in the upcoming general election expected next year.
Among the announced measures are an increase in the minimum salary threshold for skilled worker visas and the prohibition of family dependents for overseas health and social care staff coming to Britain. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's office has hailed these proposals as "the biggest clampdown on legal migration ever."
However, critics argue that these measures may negatively impact the National Health Service (NHS), which is already grappling with staff shortages. Immigration is poised to be a pivotal issue in the upcoming elections, anticipated by January 2025 at the latest, where the main opposition Labour Party currently holds favour.
Responding to statistics indicating a peak in net migration to Britain in 2022, Prime Minister Sunak has pledged to reduce new arrivals. Interior Minister James Cleverly, presenting the plan, stated that it would lead to 300,000 fewer people coming to the UK in the coming years.
James Cleverly outlined key changes, including an increased salary requirement for skilled foreign workers seeking a UK visa, raised from £26,200 to £38,700, aligning with the median full-time wage. While health and social care workers are exempt, they will be barred from bringing family dependents. These changes have raised concerns among organizations like NHS Providers and Care England, emphasizing the crucial role of immigration in supporting the healthcare and social care sectors.
The interior minister also raised the minimum income for family visas to £38,700, imposed restrictions on international students bringing dependents, and confirmed a 66 percent increase in the surcharge migrants pay to access the NHS, now set at £1,035. Critics argue that this surcharge effectively imposes a double charge on migrant workers, who also contribute to national insurance charges for healthcare coverage.
