Why in the News?
Recently, the United Kingdom (UK) has announced new plans to change its immigration rules to reduce the number of people moving to the country.
What are the key immigration reforms proposed to control net migration?
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Why has the UK decided to discontinue social care visas for foreign workers?
- Increased Migration and Pressure on Services: The rise in social care visas after COVID-19 led to a large influx of foreign care workers, which added strain to public services and housing. Eg: Over 114,000 additional health and care worker visas were issued between 2021 and 2023, mainly to South Asian and African nationals.
- Reducing Low-Skilled Migration: The government plans to reduce low-skilled migration by raising visa requirements, such as increasing the skill level from A-level to a degree. Eg: Social care sector.
- Promoting Domestic Workforce Development: There is a push to invest in training and apprenticeships for UK residents instead of relying on imported cheap labour. Eg: PM Starmer highlighted the need to focus on local skills development rather than importing workers in sectors like social care.
Who are the major beneficiaries of the UK’s visa ?
- South Asian Nationals: A large number of work visas were issued to workers from India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Eg: Many Indian care workers received health and care visas between 2021 and 2023.
- Sub-Saharan African Nationals: Significant numbers of care workers came from countries like Zimbabwe, Ghana, and Nigeria. Eg: The visa route helped fill care sector jobs with workers from these African nations.
How have Indian students and workers been affected by recent changes in UK visa policies?
- Shorter Post-Study Work Visa: Graduate visa reduced from 2 years to 18 months, limiting job opportunities for Indian students. Eg, many now have less time to build careers in the UK.
- Higher Skill Requirements: Skilled worker visas now require a degree-level qualification, excluding some mid-skilled jobs. Eg, Indian engineers and healthcare workers face stricter eligibility.
- English Language Rules for Dependents: Dependents must meet English proficiency requirements to promote integration. Eg, Indian families may find it harder to join relatives.
- Longer Residency for Settlement: Permanent residency eligibility increased from 5 to 10 years. Eg, Indians must wait longer to settle permanently.
- Increased Tuition Costs: Proposed 6% fee levy on international students raises study costs. Eg, this could discourage Indian students from studying in the UK.
Way forward:
- Enhance Domestic Skill Development: Invest significantly in vocational training and apprenticeships to reduce dependency on low-skilled foreign labour and create local employment opportunities.
- Balance Migration Policies: Implement targeted immigration reforms that maintain the UK’s competitiveness in attracting global talent while ensuring sustainable public service capacity and social integration.
Mains PYQ:
[UPSC 2023] Indian diaspora has scaled new heights in the West. Describe its economic and political benefits for India.
Linkage: The tightening of immigration rules in Western countries like the UK directly impacts the size, composition, and potential “scaling of new heights” of the diaspora, and thus implicitly affects the economic and political benefits for India.
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