The government has been accused of ‘kicking the care sector when it is already down’ after it ruled that overseas recruitment of care workers will end.

Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, announced that the Government’s Immigration White Paper, published this week, will include the change as part of action to bring down historically-high levels of net migration.   

She said care workers from overseas have made a huge contribution to social care in the UK, but too many have been subject to shameful levels of abuse and exploitation.  

Workers seeking to support the UK’s care sector arrived to find themselves saddled with debt, treated unfairly, or, in extreme cases, discovered the jobs they were promised did not exist.

In March, the Home Office revealed over 470 care providers had had their licence to sponsor international staff suspended since 2022.

And, under plans to be outlined today, the Government will go further and put an end to any more overseas recruitment.

But the move has been widely criticised by operators and unions, who fear it will leave the sector significantly understaffed.

The Homecare Association’s chief executive, Jane Townson, said: “International recruitment is a lifeline for the home care sector, enabling us to provide vital support to older and disabled people in their own homes.

“Care providers are already struggling to recruit within the UK and we are deeply concerned the Government has not properly considered what will happen to the millions of people who depend on care at home to live safely and independently.”

And Care England chief executive, Martin Green, described the decision as ‘a crushing blow to an already-fragile sector’ and accused the Government of ‘kicking us while we’re already down’.

He added: “For years, the sector has been propping itself up with dwindling resources, rising costs, and mounting vacancies.

“International recruitment wasn’t a silver bullet, but it was a lifeline.

“Taking it away now, with no warning, no funding, and no alternative, is not just short-sighted – it’s cruel.”

Unison, which represents many care workers and operators, said the NHS and care sector would have ‘collapsed years ago’ without the support thousands of migrant workers.

Christina McAnea, general secretary, said: “Migrant health and care staff already here will now be understandably anxious about what’s to happen to them.

“The Government must reassure these overseas workers they’ll be allowed to stay and continue with their indispensable work.”

In a statement, the Government said: “This government is committed to tackling these issues and has committed to establishing Fair Pay Agreements which will empower worker, employer, and other sector representatives to negotiate improvements in the terms of employment.

“This builds on the announcement in January of the expansion of the Care Workforce Pathway, which will support the adult social care sector to professionalise the workforce.

“Together, these measures will move the UK away from a dependence on overseas workers to fulfil our care needs.

“Baroness Casey has also begun work on an independent commission into adult social care – a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transcend party politics and build consensus on the future of the sector.

“The Immigration White Paper is part of government efforts to restore order, control and fairness to the system, bring down net migration, and promote economic growth.”

One market source suggests there is a less pressing need to recruit from overseas following recent hirings. Unemployment in other sectors due to ENIC and living wage increases, could also mean more domestic workers join the care sector and therefore that the policy has a muted impact.

However another points out the cost of bringing international workers into the UK are much higher than hiring domestic ones on minimum wage, suggesting the local labour pool is still too small.