The United Kingdom (UK) has made stricter amendments to its immigration laws, further tightening the already stringent regulations governing the entry of foreigners into the country.
It announced it would raise the minimum salary threshold for a skilled worker visa and prevent overseas health and social care staff from bringing family dependents to Britain.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s office trumpeted the proposals as “the biggest clampdown on legal migration ever.”
“Together, this package will mean around 300,000 people who came to the UK last year would now not be able to come,” the statement released by the Home Office on Monday said,
However, critics say it would damage the state-run National Health Service (NHS), which faces staff shortages.
Sunak has pledged to reduce new arrivals and has been under pressure ever since statistics released last month showed that net migration to Britain hit a high in 2022.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people who arrived in Britain last year was 745,000 more than the number who left.
James Cleverly, Interior Minister, said his plan would result in 300,000 fewer people coming to the UK in the coming years.
“Enough is enough,” the home secretary told parliament as he laid out his proposals, which will take effect early next year.
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Cleverly said skilled foreign workers wanting a UK visa would have to earn £38,700 ($48,860), up from £26,200 and in line with the median full-time wage.
He exempted health and social care workers, but said they would be prevented from bringing family dependents.
NHS Providers, which represents hospital groups in England, said changes that might deter care workers from coming to the UK were “deeply concerning.“
Care England, a charity representing independent adult social care providers, said immigration had been “saving the social care sector.“
Cleverly also raised the minimum income for family visas to £38,700 and confirmed restrictions on international students bringing dependents.
He reaffirmed that Britain would increase the surcharge that migrants pay to access the NHS by 66 percent, to £1,035.
Critics have said this effectively imposes a double charge on migrant workers, as employees also pay National Insurance charges, which go towards covering healthcare.
The Minister added that the government would reform the “shortage occupation list,” which details jobs for which employers are not able to find enough British workers.
