Settlement U-turn offers vital reassurance, but government must deliver on its commitments, Care England says.

Care England has responded to the government’s decision to preserve a five-year route to settlement for eligible international care workers, describing the announcement as an important concession following widespread concerns over proposals that could have forced thousands to wait up to 15 years for permanent settlement.

The announcement offers reassurance to care workers who came to Britain in good faith and have built their lives and careers supporting people who depend on care. However, the five-year protection is conditional, with further clarity needed on earnings requirements, transitional arrangements and protections for those whose employment has been disrupted.

Care England has consistently challenged the proposals through government consultations and parliamentary engagement. Most recently, it joined the Work Rights Centre, Action for Race Equality, the Society of Radiographers and cross-party parliamentarians in a joint letter to the Home Secretary and Health Secretary, warning against retrospective changes and calling for protections for international workers and their families.

Alongside this work, Care England has intervened in immigration cases affecting over 700 international care workers, supporting providers and staff facing uncertainty over their employment and immigration status.

Professor Martin Green OBE, Chief Executive of Care England, said:

“This is an important step forward, and we should celebrate it for what it is. Thousands of international care workers came to Britain in good faith, worked hard, paid their taxes and dedicated themselves to caring for others. They have built lives here, raised families and become part of our communities. They deserve certainty about their future.

 

International care workers stood by this country during the pandemic, providing essential care when we needed them most. Yet the previous proposals threatened to undermine their future here, without offering a credible plan to recruit and retain more workers from within the UK. Care England has consistently raised these concerns, alongside many others, and it is encouraging that those voices have been heard.

 

It is right that the Government has also recognised the position of workers who have lost their sponsorship through no fault of their own. We have seen first-hand how devastating that uncertainty can be, both for workers and the care providers who depend on them.

 

The government has promised greater support for these workers, yet the funding for regional partnerships helping them find new employment is due to end in March 2027. We cannot promise displaced care workers greater protection at the same time as the infrastructure designed to help them is being wound down by the government.

 

If the government intends to give workers more time to find another sponsor, there must also be somewhere for them to go for practical help. That means maintaining a route into ethical employers, access to appropriate immigration advice and effective coordination between the Home Office, local government and care providers.

 

This announcement deserves recognition, but it cannot be the end of the story. We need protections that work in practice, certainty for workers and their families, and a system that allows care providers to retain the people our communities rely on every day.”

Care England will continue engaging with the government to ensure the settlement arrangements deliver meaningful protection for international care workers, support workforce retention and safeguard the continuity of care for people who rely on essential services.

Watch Professor Martin Green speak to 5 News on this topic here