Toba Owojaiye reporting
Abuja, Nigeria
The UK Government is contemplating closing temporary visa schemes due to a surge in migration, notably in the healthcare sector.
Over the past nine months, health and care worker visas have more than doubled, reaching 143,990. The New Conservatives party, backed by influential figures, called for ending temporary visas for care workers to curb net migration.
The Home Office reveals Indians, Nigerians, and Zimbabweans as top beneficiaries, with Nigeria experiencing a significant 169% increase. Dependents granted health and care worker visas, particularly from Nigeria, soared by 329%, attributed to favorable entry conditions amid the UK’s healthcare worker shortage worsened by the ongoing COVID-19 impact.
Truth Live News gathered that concerns arose as statistics show 1.279 million more people entering the UK than exiting in the last two years, raising issues of strain on accommodation and amenities. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak acknowledges “too high” net migration levels, contradicting the Conservative Party’s 2019 pledge to reduce migration.
2022 saw a record 745,000 net migration into the UK, three times pre-Brexit levels, prompting concerns about sustainability in propping up social care with visa workers. The government faces the challenge of balancing immigration policies, addressing healthcare sector needs, and managing broader community impact.