UK Cries Out for Foreign Care Workers
16/07/2008 by Charlotte Norman
A number of care UK care homes have expressed there concerns for the lack of workers in the care home sectors. With this in mind they have taken there plea for more overseas workers to government officials.
The English Community Care Association, the National Care Association and the Registered Nursing Homes Association submitted their growing concerns for labour shortages to the Migration Advisory Committee, which advises the government on how migration can fill labour shortages.
These key organisations feel that the countries many care homes are being subjected to closures and disruptions should new staff not be recruited. The migration committee have further been informed that staff will need to be recruited from outside Europe due to the limited amount of resources throughout the UK and its surrounding neighbours.
In order to resolve this damaging issue and obtain such workers the government will need to ensure that care workers are placed upon the shortage occupations list which is due to be released in accordance with the new Tier 2 points based system.
Workers whose trades are on the list will find it easier to obtain employment in the UK; however they will have to find a job prior to entering the country. It is hoped that these trades will see there employers seeking skilled migrants from all over the world, instead of being restricted to within the European economic area.
Many officials from these struggling skill set sectors feel that the new system will penalise lower wage departments and will make it near impossible to gain non EEA staff.
Mandy Thorn, a spokeswoman for the National Care Association said that "There is an acceptance there is a shortage of care workers, but the most disappointing thing is they don't accept care workers are skilled workers."
In defense of the points based system, Immigration Minister, Liam Byrne said "the new system would mean UK workers get a fair crack of the whip and that only the skilled migrants we actually need will be able to come."
He further adds that "Points for skilled workers, such as teachers, nurses and engineers, will be awarded according to qualifications and salary prospects."
With the average care worker earning around £14,000 per year such workers will view the PBS as detrimental when finding work. Currently only those earning in excess of £17,000 will be gain any points at all.
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