Stock image
(Picture: PA Wire)Some visa fees should be scrapped and a special new pay rate above the national minimum wage should be introduced to tackle the social care recruitment crisis, government advisers said on Wednesday.
The Migration Advisory Committee said social care workers should receive at least £10.50 and remain on the shortage occupation list to allow migrant staff to be brought in to fill gaps.
It said that the immigration skills charge faced by employers for each overseas recruit should be removed and that settlement fees for those staying five years or longer should be scrapped or substantially lowered.
Announcing the proposed changes, the committee chairman Professor Brian Bell said: “We urge the Government to put our recommendations in place as soon as possible.”
Data from the Office for National Statistics shows more than one million people work in social care.
Most are women and in London a quarter were born abroad.
