Care workers vital during COVID-19 but are unwelcome and unskilled in immigration bill

MPs are challenging the government’s “unfair” view of care workers in Westminster as they debate and vote on an immigration bill which classes care workers as low-skilled.

Care workers' role as 'critical workers' in the COVID-19 pandemic sees them working to protect the most vulnerable in society but in future, many will not be able to come to the UK to work in the care sector. This is because they are defined as low-skilled and do not meet the minimum salary threshold requirement of £25,600 as set out in the government’s immigration bill.

Grannies more important than Granny Smiths

The Immigration and Social Security Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill will replace freedom of movement for EU citizens and will impose a minimum salary threshold of £25,600 for workers seeking to enter the UK - with no exemptions for so-called low-skilled jobs including care workers. Seasonal workers however are exempt.

The charity Age UK is among those in the care sector who have long argued that care workers must be valued by government above seasonal farm workers.

Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK has said: “Does the Government really think that being able to eat home grown Granny Smiths is more important than ensuring that ‘Grannies and Grandpas’ up and down the country can get the care they need?"

With the government list of critical workers during the pandemic including care staff, it is not just the care sector but MPs and the general public who believe the government must think again about classifying care workers as low skilled when they have a crucial role in keeping vulnerable people safe.

'Rank hypocrisy'

Labour's shadow home secretary Nick Thomas-Symonds told the BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: "What the government is proposing is not fair and it's not in the national interest and that's because they are deeming people who are low skilled to be unwelcome in this country.

"We see the clap for carers on a Thursday evening. It is wrong to then say on a Monday that you are unskilled, and that people with those skills are not welcome in this country.

"That's why I'm asking the government to think again. We can't support an immigration bill today that is a threat to our health and health and social care sector."

The bill will enable the government to introduce a new points-based system, which some say will affect the ability of care workers to come to the UK.

The new points system will award points for specific requirements such as being able to speak English to a certain level, having a job offer from an approved employer and meeting a salary threshold of £25,600.

Other points could be awarded for certain qualifications and if there is a shortage in a particular occupation.

In March, a visa allowing doctors, nurses and health professionals from overseas to work in the NHS was introduced.

The Labour MP for Torfaen (@NickTorfaen) tweeted: "The Tories rushing this Bill through is a huge risk to our NHS and care sector during the #coronaviruscrisis.

"Frankly, it’s rank hypocrisy to over 180,000 NHS and care workers to clap for them on a Thursday night and say they’re not welcome here today."

Ahead of the bill's second reading, Home Secretary Priti Patel said: "This historic piece of legislation gives the UK full control of our immigration system for the first time in decades and the power to determine who comes to this country.

"Our new points-based system is firmer, fairer, and simpler”.

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