A major UK home care provider is struggling because the Home Office is taking too long to renew visas for migrant workers.
Many workers from Africa came to the UK to help with the shortage of care workers during Covid. But because some people took advantage of the system, the government made the visa rules stricter.
Grosvenor Healthcare’s boss, Darren Stapelberg, says they’re paying less to 30 Zimbabwean workers and might have to do the same for 90 more soon. Even though England needs 152,000 more care workers, some workers are leaving because of visa problems.
In 2023, the government gave out 106,000 care worker visas, but some went to fake companies or care homes. In December, the government said care workers couldn’t bring their families, because they were worried about modern slavery.
The Homecare Association told Care Minister Helen Whately about the problems. It’s hard for companies to get visa extensions for workers who are already here.
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