According to government advisors, it is important that the immigration laws be eased immediately in order for migrants and asylum seekers to take over employment opportunities in the UK’s failing social care sector.
The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) has advised Priti Patel to add care workers to Britain’s shortage occupation list, due to the ‘severe and increasing difficulties faced by the sector’.
Once a certain occupation is added to the list, it makes it easier for migrants to get visas as the minimum salary threshold for that job is reduced to £20,480.
The other requirements, which include English language requirement, are eliminated.
Although’senior care workers’ were added to this list in March and requested that all foreign workers be included, the home secretary refused to include domestic workers who had lost their jobs due to the pandemic.
MAC supports the idea that asylum seekers should be allowed to work in order to await the decision on their application to reside in the UK. This is supported by both rights activists and Labour Party.
Asylum seekers cannot start work if they are waiting for a response within 12 months. The job must also be listed on the shortlist.
Priti Patel (pictured), a member of the Migration Advisory Council (MAC), was advised by British Labour to increase the number of care workers in Britain’s shortage occupations.
Dover was visited by a number of migrants on Wednesday. They performed the V for Victory sign using their fingers
According to the Home Office, making it more easy for asylum seekers and refugees to apply for work is a way to increase illegal immigration and promote travel to Britain.
MAC however refuted the fears and stated in its annual report that it had ‘clear evidence’ to show that the ban currently in place on UK asylum seekers harmed the individual’s ability to integrate – along with the economy.
According to the report, “The harm is compounded by increasing numbers of asylum seeker who have to wait more than six months before they get a decision.”
The ban was not accompanied by any evidence that it had a significant impact on the lives of people.
The chairman of the committee, Professor Brian Bell said that tax revenue was also affected by the ban on work because asylum-seekers were less likely to be unemployed or find low-paying jobs.
Bell stated that the evidence was clear. The current approach slows integration and causes harm to those who seek protection.
“This is why we recommend that the government revisits this issue, and looks at whether it might grant asylum seekers permission to work while they are still awaiting their decision.
Preliminary findings from MAC’s independent review on the effects of Brexit ending freedom to move was the basis for the recommendation.
It stated that ‘Currently, we are in the middle a commission investigating what the end of freedom of mobility means for the adult social services sector.
“We offer an update on our preliminary findings in this report and are unusually taking the chance to send a formal recommendation for the government.
“Given the increasing difficulty in recruitment and retention of the sector, we recommend that all care worker jobs be immediately made eligible for the Health and Care Visa and put on the Shortage Occup List.”
It comes as Ms Patel is being taken to court over another Brexit rule change that could see up to two million EU citizens living in Britain stripped of their right to work or even deported.
According to a settlement reached with Brussels, Europeans can be eligible for “settled” status if they can prove that they have been living in Britain for at least five years. The rest of the population are denied this status.
The Home Office has now asked the Independent Monitoring Authority to monitor the implementation of the Withdrawal Agreement. It stated that they are requesting that people who have been granted pre-settled status apply for the main scheme.
The IMA states that failure to comply could result in them being unable to access UK benefits, or even make it impossible to work.
It seeks a judicial review, claiming that the proposed change is in violation of Citizens Rights Agreements between UK and EU.
Kathryn Chamberlain (CEO of the IMA) said: “By taking legal action now, we hope that we can provide clarity to those citizens with presettled statut, which is 2.485 millions as of November 30 2021.”
The government is being accused of “failing to correctly implement the United Kingdom’s obligations” under the treaty.
“The Secretary of State believes that pre-settled citizens from the EU or EEA EFTA who have applied successfully for it may lose it if they fail to apply again,” it says.
“Such persons must make another application within five year of being granted pre-settled Status. This can be for either settled status under EUSS (once they are eligible for permanent residence) or for a longer period.
“But, if they do not apply for one status, Secretary of State will declare them unlawfully present in UK because of this failure.
“The end result is that they are likely to be subject to severe consequences, which will affect their ability to access and live in the UK as well as work and social security.
“The Claimant claims that it is inconsistent with the Agreements which don’t allow for loss of status under such circumstances.”
Kathryn Chamberlain is chief executive at the IMA. She added that by taking legal action, we hope to clarify for citizens with pre-settled status (of which there were 2.485million as of November 30, 2021).
A Home Office spokesman said: ‘We take our citizens’ rights obligations very seriously and have implemented the arrangements we agreed under the Withdrawal Agreement in good faith.
“The government does not accept the Independent Monitoring Authority’s analysis of The Withdrawal Agreement.
“It is the UK Government’s position since the beginning that those with pre-settled status must apply for settled status prior to their status ending to remain in the UK.