UK home secretary signals possible changes to care-worker settlement plans

UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has indicated that proposed changes to permanent-residence rules for overseas care workers may be revised. Speaking at the Labour conference, Mahmood said the government would seek a position balancing fairness for people who came to Britain legally with fairness to British citizens. Her comments followed criticism from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner and Unison general secretary Andrea Egan.

They opposed plans to extend the settlement timetable for social-care workers who arrived on health and care visas. The proposals would increase the qualifying period for permanent residence from five years to 15 years and apply retrospectively to migrants who arrived from 2021. Critics said this would undermine expectations held by workers who moved to Britain to care for older people.

Sources close to Mahmood said no decision had been made and that her speech set out principles rather than final policy. Mahmood also announced plans for charities and non-profit organisations to apply from October to sponsor refugees through community and student routes. The first arrivals under those routes are expected in autumn of the following year.

She confirmed that the UK would reopen a resettlement route with the United Nations. The first arrivals under that route would begin this year, including Afghan women and girls and Palestinians who fled Gaza, according to her statement.