The UK government is set to implement significant changes to its immigration policies, particularly focusing on reducing the recruitment of care workers from overseas. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced this move as part of a broader strategy to cut down net migration, which has been a longstanding challenge for successive governments. The changes are expected to be officially unveiled soon, and they aim to encourage the employment of British nationals and the extension of visas for overseas workers already residing in the UK. As part of these changes, Cooper emphasized that it is time to end the recruitment of care workers from abroad. Instead, care firms will be required to either hire British nationals or extend the visas of existing overseas workers. This policy shift is expected to result in up to 50,000 fewer lower-skilled and care workers coming to the UK over the next year. The government is also set to introduce new visa and recruitment laws to further support this goal. The proposed changes are part of a broader effort to address the issue of net migration, which has recently surged to record levels. In June 2023, net migration reached 906,000, and it stood at 728,000 the previous year. Despite various attempts by past governments to tackle this issue, it remains a significant challenge. The Home Office is expected to release an immigration White Paper detailing the new policies in the coming days. In addition to ending overseas recruitment for care workers, the government plans to raise the threshold for skilled visas to a graduate level, tightening it from the current A-level requirement. There will also be a more restrictive list of exceptions for temporary shortage visas across certain industries. Currently, some roles deemed in short supply, such as carpenters and graphic designers, can be hired from overseas at a discounted salary rate. The new rules aim to reduce reliance on overseas workers for these positions. The government is also introducing new requirements for training commitments to encourage more UK residents to enter the labor market. This is part of a broader strategy to reduce the need for overseas workers by bolstering the domestic workforce. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp criticized the government's plans as insufficient, calling for an annual cap on migration. He suggested that if Labour had maintained previous Conservative policies, net migration could have been reduced by about 400,000. Philp agreed with the decision to end overseas recruitment for care workers but advocated for a more substantial reduction in migration numbers. Changes are also set to affect international students and graduates. While they will still be allowed to study and work in the UK post-graduation, the government plans to tighten standards and compliance requirements for universities. This comes in response to issues with some universities not maintaining adequate standards, leading to problems with students overstaying or not completing their courses. The care sector has already faced restrictions since the government came to power last July. Applications for Health and Care Worker visas saw a significant decline after peak numbers in August 2023, largely due to a ban on bringing dependants. Additionally, care firms must now prove they have attempted to recruit domestically before hiring from overseas. The new policies will require care companies to rely on domestic workers or utilize a pool of over 10,000 care workers who were brought to the UK on visas for jobs that did not materialize. Cooper also promised to introduce a fair pay agreement for care workers to make the profession more attractive to UK residents. Nadra Ahmed, executive chairman of the National Care Association, expressed concern over the impact of these changes, suggesting they could exacerbate challenges for care homes. She noted that while providers prefer a domestic workforce, it is not always available. Liberal Democrats social care spokesperson Helen Morgan criticized the government's approach, accusing them of failing to adequately address the crisis in social care. She called for better pay and career progression plans for care workers to address recruitment shortages. The Labour Party's review of migration policy has been ongoing for several months, but some speculate that the recent crackdown was influenced by political pressures. Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, recently gained ground in local elections, and Farage claimed that the new legislation is a response to his party's rising influence. In summary, the UK government is set to implement strict new immigration policies aimed at reducing net migration by curbing the recruitment of overseas care workers and tightening visa requirements. These measures are part of a broader effort to address a longstanding challenge and are expected to be detailed in an upcoming immigration White Paper.