Longer Waits for Settlement: What’s Changing?
Overseas care workers in the UK could soon face a daunting 15-year wait before they qualify for settlement. That’s three times longer than the current requirement! The government recently unveiled this proposal to tighten immigration rules, sending shockwaves through the care sector. 
Sector leaders didn’t mince words, calling the plan a “grave injustice” that could worsen what they describe as an ongoing crisis in social care. Many worry this move might discourage much-needed overseas workers from coming to the UK, especially when the sector already struggles with staff shortages and high turnover.
The Impact on Social Care and Workers
As it stands, care workers play a crucial role in supporting the UK’s aging population and vulnerable adults. Extending the settlement wait means talented, hardworking people are left in limbo for over a decade. Is this how we thank those who care for our loved ones? Or just another way to make their lives even harder? Maybe next time, the government can propose a plan that doesn’t sound like the plot of a never-ending reality show.