Reform council complains Labour is being TOO TOUGH on migrant workers warning clampdown on care sector could see vital staff 'going home'
Kent County Council leader Linden Kemkaran has written to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper about a new law cutting the number of care worker visas.
But rather than being in favour of the change, Ms Kemkaran, whose party wants to drastically cut legal immigration, has complained that it could leave its services and private providers on a 'cliff edge'.
In the letter, co-signed by the council's cabinet Member for adult social care and public health, Diane Morton, she said she had 'grave concerns' about the proposed law change.
Under changes laid in Parliament earlier this month, care worker visas will be scrapped and the salary threshold for skilled worker visas will rise from £38,700 to £41,700.
It will also up the threshold to degree level for skilled workers, which will cut eligibility for 111 occupations.
In her letter, Ms Kemkaran wrote: 'Across the contracts for the Council's adult social care and health services there are approximately 150 providers we are aware of who have sponsorship licences which is equal to 20-25 per cent of our social care workforce being from overseas...
'Paired with the changes announced in the autumn Budget in 2024 that resulted in changes to employer National Insurance contributions from April 2025, this is totally unsustainable, and the risk is that many care workers at this level will go home and leave providers on a cliff edge.'
She added: This is obviously a national issue, and it is too early to describe the long-term impact on the council and care providers ... however, due to the challenges facing the adult social care system in general, and care providers in particular, we urge you to reconsider these changes and look forward to your support in addressing these urgent pressing matters.'
Legislation to end the recruitment of care workers from abroad is set to be introduced as part of a raft of immigration reforms.
New rules to be laid in Parliament on Tuesday will also seek to increase salary and skills thresholds up to degree level for skilled workers, which will cut eligibility for 111 occupations.
The salary threshold for skilled worker visas will rise from £38,700 to £41,700 under the proposals.
A new time-limited temporary shortage list will also be introduced until the end of 2026 for below degree level, where recruiting foreign workers is key to build critical infrastructure or industrial strategy.
But those workers will no longer be able to bring their families and will not be entitled to salary and visa fee discounts.
The legislative measures are the first policy changes to be introduced from the Government's Immigration White Paper to tighten controls and cut migration to the UK.
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