Responding to the NAO report on skilled worker visas, Nuffield
Trust Researcher Cyril Lobont said:
“This report makes clear that sudden immigration policy changes
have happened without proper coordination across government, and
with little regard for their impact on essential care services
which are struggling to recruit enough staff domestically. Such
changes can be implemented at speed, but the problems they create
then take years to fix.
“The social care sector remains hugely reliant on skilled
overseas workers to deliver care and support to the people who
need it, and we need to retain a route for them to come to the
UK. At the same time, we know from our research that more must be
done to make careers in social care more attractive
domestically.[1]
“Findings of "widespread evidence" of exploitation and
underpayment of wages in the care sector are sadly not
surprising. This highlights how important it is that the
government gets their new Fair Work Agency[2] set up right to
robustly stamp this out.
“The NAO report is more evidence that there's a need for a clear
workforce strategy for the social care sector as the current
piecemeal approach just isn't coherent. We already have high
vacancies, and projections suggest far more people will need to
start working in the sector to meet growing care needs. Plans to
build a stable workforce will have to include both a domestic and
overseas pipeline, and the government should place evidence
front-and-centre when making these critical decisions.”
Ends.
Notes to Editors
- Nuffield Trust research on options to improve care worker pay
available here.
- The Employment Rights Bill includes plans to deliver the Fair
Work Agency. Nuffield Trust briefing on how the Bill impacts the
care sector available here.
