So just how will the carehome & NHS vacancies be filled now?

The Tories created the hostile environment policy, we had a Brexit based on cutting down immigration and the loss of free movement and there is publicity about the Rwanda scheme. All of that probably makes would be immigrant workers think twice before applying for jobs and visas just as many EU workers left the UK because they felt unwelcome after Brexit. Touting for anti-immigrant votes shoots us in the foot because, as an ageing population, we need immigration for the public services like the NHS and for business. The Tories are using the Rwanda scheme as a massive distraction from their many failures and it will likely be followed by tax cut bribes.

Interesting that the government has already watered down this policy without announcing the u-turn formally, quietly while everyone is thinking of Christmas
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/dec/21/home-office-reduces-earning-threshold-hike-for-family-visa

In the current situation of an ageing population immigration is essential to provide workers in a wide range of businesses including the NHS and care sectors. The boat refugees are a tiny percentage of immigrants which the Tories exploit to attract votes from those opposed to or fearful of immigrants. We need to institute more safe and legal routes of entry for refugees.

It is less guaranteed GSM if they must overnight earn an extra £10,000

They might have been living in the UK for years NS, but only by virtue of a visa which grants a temporary right only. They know that renewal is not guaranteed.

Indeed HPQ, not directly, but they may be the partner of someone who does. Hence the requirement for a household income above a certain threshold.

Germanshepherdsmum

As the article says, there is never a guarantee that a visa will be renewed when it expires. There has been criticism of dependants coming into the country with insufficient means of support. This should help to ensure that they don’t become dependent on the taxpayer.

Many working here on visas have no recourse to public funds

I think we are on the same page with this Maizie and did read the BBC article.

I think the ban on care workers (and probably others) bringing family dependants to the UK is shortsighted.

Many UK families are living on less than the "minimum" though GSM - it doesn't mean they are a burden on society. My daughter's little family is living below this level. She works part time, her husband full time and they have a young daughter. They are over the threshold for benefits and still pay tax (and volunteer in the community).

If families/couples have been living here for years on less than the £38,000 why should we split them up?

As the article says, there is never a guarantee that a visa will be renewed when it expires. There has been criticism of dependants coming into the country with insufficient means of support. This should help to ensure that they don’t become dependent on the taxpayer.

NotSpaghetti

No worries, Maizie
Though I read this today which will be scary for quite a few I think:

Brits could see their foreign partners told to leave the country the next time their visa comes up for renewal – if their household does not earn £38,700, No 10 said.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/foreign-spouse-visa-uk-migration-crackdown-b2459168.html

That is what I was trying to point out in my initial post. 😀

I was surprised that other posters didn't seem to understand the implications for British citizens of the proposals.

(I'm not trying to be niggly. In fact I'm glad that someone else has picked up on this too...)

There was a piece on the radio about it earlier too.

No worries, Maizie
Though I read this today which will be scary for quite a few I think:

Brits could see their foreign partners told to leave the country the next time their visa comes up for renewal – if their household does not earn £38,700, No 10 said.

www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/foreign-spouse-visa-uk-migration-crackdown-b2459168.html

NotSpaghetti

Sorry, no MaizieD - I came upon these current salaries and was amazed that we are pushing up the minimums.

I do realise that there will apparently be different ones for caring professionals of course.

Sorry. It wasn't clear whether they were examples of jobs which wouldn't get a visa under the new regulations or something to do with the exemptions under those regulations which are said to exist.

Sorry, no MaizieD - I came upon these current salaries and was amazed that we are pushing up the minimums.

I do realise that there will apparently be different ones for caring professionals of course.

They look to me like actual current salaries, none of which would give eligibility for work visas under the newly announced plans.

NotSpaghetti

*NHS Nurse Band 4 - £27,586
*Junior Doctor starting salary -£32,300
*Construction Labourer average salary - £23,000
*Care Worker average salary - £23,410
*Farm Worker average salary - £23,400
*University Lecturer average starting salary - £34,804

Just a small selection
^copied from Dr Alex Bulat (Cambs) on Twitter/X^

What is the context of these salaries, NotSpaghetti?. Are these the proposed requirements for granting a visa?

Germanshepherdsmum

They appear to be the current requirements Maizie. Do you have information about a proposed change?

The thread isn't about current requirements, it's about the new government proposals released yesterday. As per the BBC item I linked to.

There may well be a lower salary requirement in them for health and care workers, but I can't find any information on it.

*NHS Nurse Band 4 - £27,586
*Junior Doctor starting salary -£32,300
*Construction Labourer average salary - £23,000
*Care Worker average salary - £23,410
*Farm Worker average salary - £23,400
*University Lecturer average starting salary - £34,804

Just a small selection
copied from Dr Alex Bulat (Cambs) on Twitter/X

They appear to be the current requirements Maizie. Do you have information about a proposed change?

Oreo I meant the entire package of proposed reforms, which are simply dog-whistles, not linked to any strategies for economic development, since this shower don’t have any.

It sounds to me like a strategy of short-term gain for long-term pain (the gain being for themselves and the pain for the people).

That's what it sounds like to me, too, Oldnproud

Ilovecheese

Oreo

It starts next Spring Whitewavemark2 but am thinking a Labour government will be happy to stick with it as cheaper all round and reduces migration figures.

Me too

Well, in view of its effect on British citizens and on families I very much hope that Labour doesn't stick with it. Or modifies it drastically.

Germanshepherdsmum

Government website Maizie. Horse’s mouth.
www.gov.uk/health-care-worker-visa/your-job

The scheme isn't due to start until the spring, GSM. Aren't those the current requirements?

For nearly 30 years I worked for a very reputable care company which is part of a large housing group, it was and still is, one of the best paid in my area. It provides 24/7 Care at Home and Housing Support and/or outreach support to people within their own homes. The service users have differing needs due to e.g. Autism, learning disability often with associated physical difficulties, poor mental health, etc.
Support staff work shifts, who you were supporting determined the hours. Sleep-overs and waking nights are obligatory for the CaH and HS staff positions. Examples of shifts - 10.00-22.30, sleep-over, then 07.00-10.00. Another could be 13.00-22.30, sleepover, 07.00- 16.00. Also, again depending on who you were supporting, you might be working alone apart from the hand-over times (30 minutes at the start and finish of each shift) or you could be working as part of a team covering the hours between 07.00-22.00. Other than during extended periods of waking nights, I very rarely worked the exact same shifts two weeks in a row. This made the life/work balance very difficult at times, especially so for those with young/school age children.
I occasionally have a look through their social media posts to see what’s going on with some of those I helped to support for so long. Every second/third post is for applications for various vacancies throughout the group as a whole. The starting wage for cleaning staff for various offices/headquarters is more than £1.50 per hour than the starting wage for support staff within the care section of the company. Cleaning staff work exactly the same shifts every week. Is it any wonder it’s difficult to find staff for the care sector?