Shabana Mahmood’s controversial immigration reforms will deepen the staffing crisis in social care, a union has warned, with analysis showing British workers are not filling vacancies left by fewer migrant staff.
Unison said official figures showed that the sharp decline in international recruits following a visa crackdown has not been offset by more British workers entering the sector. Instead, the number of UK staff has also fallen.
The Labour-affiliated union warned this shows the Government that slowing immigration will not lead to more British workers taking up care jobs.
It urged Mahmood, the Home Secretary, to abandon plans to make it harder for migrant care workers to settle in the UK, warning that the changes would exacerbate staff “shortages” in a sector with around 96,000 vacancies.
The union was backed by Labour MPs amid the threat of a backbench revolt against Mahmood’s plans to double the default qualifying time for immigrants to qualify for indefinite leave to remain (ILR) in the UK from five to 10 years, which will rise to 15 years for care workers.
MPs said the Home Secretary’s proposed changes risk “worsening an already serious workforce problem” and called for a U-turn.
Mahmood is believed to be considering exempting care workers from her plans amid the threat of a Labour rebellion – and as Prime Minister Andy Burnham makes fixing the sector a key long-term priority.
Unison analysis of industry employment figures shows the number of international recruits hired into care jobs plunged from 105,000 in 2023/24 to 30,000 in 2025/26 amid a crackdown on visas issued for jobs in the sector.
The previous Conservative government banned care workers from bringing family members into the country in March 2024, which was followed by the Labour Government terminating the care worker visa route entirely in July 2025.
Over that same period, the number of social care jobs filled by British workers dropped by 70,000, according to the figures from the respected charity Skills for Care, which works with the Government.
Unison General Secretary Andrea Egan said: “If the Government’s serious about fixing social care, it should immediately scrap these cruel plans that will make it harder to recruit staff.
“Terrible pay and working conditions are creating shortages in the social care sector. These figures make that crystal clear. A massive drop in overseas workers has not led to rising domestic recruitment or higher wages.
“Attempts to force existing staff out of the country are wrong by every measure. If the government doesn’t drop these plans, the Prime Minister’s hope of transforming the lives of millions through a national care service will never happen.”
Labour MP Steve Yemm told The i Paper: “The immigration system must be controlled and fair, but it must also reflect the reality facing essential public services.
“Migrant care workers already living here make an invaluable contribution, looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities.
“With tens of thousands of vacancies and too few British workers currently entering or remaining in the sector, making existing care workers wait up to 15 years for settlement risks worsening an already serious workforce problem.
“The long-term answer is to improve pay, conditions and career progression so that more British workers choose a career in care.
“But that will take time, and we should not destabilise services in the meantime.”
He urged Mahmood to consider retaining a five-year route to settlement for care workers and NHS workers “who have played by the rules and provided vital service to our country.”
Labour MP Rachael Maskell said the Government’s termination of the care worker visa “placed immense pressure on the system, leaving care needs unmet and delaying discharges from hospital”.
She called for the care worker visa to be reinstated, warning that Burnham “will need a skilled and valued workforce” to transform adult social care.
Maskell added: “For those now caring in our communities, lengthening the indefinite leave to remain proposals, due to the low wages of care workers, could result in them having to triple the time they spend serving us before they can have their status here recognised.
“This is no way to treat people who do one of the hardest jobs there are.”
The Home Office has been approached for comment.
Hence then, the article about crackdown on migrant carers must be scrapped after numbers plummet by 75 000 was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( Crackdown on migrant carers ‘must be scrapped’ after numbers plummet by 75,000 )
Also on site :
- “She Left This World Far Too Soon”: Wladimir Klitschko Issues Statement On Ex Hayden Panettiere’s Death & Promises To Keep Her Memory Alive For Their Daughter Kaya
- DeWine, Tressel Tout Ohio’s Economic Success
- The global ‘freedom of the seas’ is dying in the Strait of Hormuz—and everyone, everywhere, could pay the tolls