Holly Lynch, Shadow Immigration Minister, has accused the
Government of breaking promises to care workers as new
legislation is laid to increase the Immigration Health
Surcharge.
On 21 May, the Government committed to removing the
Immigration Health Surcharge for health and care workers.
Buthealth and care workers who are working on the
frontline are currently still required to pay the charge and be
reimbursed at a later date.
A majority of care workers would also be left out of the
exemptions altogether under the proposed new health and care
visa.
The legislation being forced before Parliament also
includes the provision to increase the Immigration Health
Surcharge from £400 to £624, unaffordable for many care workers,
who on average earn just £19,104. The increase would result in a
family of two care workers with a child, facing a bill of up to
£1,718.
, Labour's Shadow Immigration Minister,
said:
“This amounts to a shameful broken promise by the
Government to health and care workers who have given so much at
the frontline of the Covid crisis. The reality is that Ministers
have been happy to clap for carers, but are now charging them
exorbitant fees to use the NHS system that depends on
them.
“It’s completely unacceptable to level upfront charges on
low paid care workers that can amount to thousands of pounds for
a family. The Government is effectively borrowing money from
families without ever saying when they will get it back. This
will be impossible for many to pay.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
