UK CHANGES MODEL FOR CARE, SOCIAL WORKERS
ZIMBABWEAN health and social care workers, who get contracts to work in the United Kingdom, will no longer be allowed to be accompanied by their children and dependants, according to plans announced on Monday.
The changes, which will affect all the overseas health and care workers coming to work in the UK, were announced by British Home Secretary, James Cleverly.
The British authorities say the changes are an attempt at “curbing abuses to the health care visa.” Mr Cleverly told the Commons: “Approximately 120,000 dependants accompanied 100,000 care workers and senior care workers in the year ending September 2023.
“Only 25% of dependants are estimated to be in work, meaning a significant number are drawing on public services rather than helping to grow the economy.
“We recognise that foreign workers do great work in our NHS and health sector, but it is also important that migrants make a big enough financial contribution.”
Home Office figures published last month showed 143,990 health and care worker visas were granted in the year ending September 2023, more than double the 61,274 for the year to September 2022.
The top three nationalities on these visas were Indians, Nigerians and Zimbabweans, the Home Office said.
The 143,990 figure was just for main visa applicants and does not include dependants.
Mr Cleverly also announced that the skilled worker earnings threshold would be raised by a third to £38,700 from next spring.
He said people coming on health and social care visa routes “will be exempt so we can continue to bring in the healthcare workers on which our care sector and NHS rely”.
Mr Cleverly said care firms in England will now be required to be regulated by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in order for them to sponsor visas. On the changes regarding dependants, the Home Office said no exact timeline has been confirmed but that further details will follow “in due course”.
Meanwhile, in its latest migration release also published last month, the Office for National Statistics said health and care work visas were the most common type of work visa on which dependants came to the UK, adding that this was driving the increase in immigration of those on work dependant visas.
Under current rules, visas last for up to five years and can be extended, while partners and children can also apply to join as the main applicant’s “dependants”. – H-Metro Reporter/Press Association
A 52-year-old man has been accused of murder and robbery in Harare.
Farayi Chikadzi and his accomplices, Simon Chihungwa and Tafadzwa Chayambuka, and another one on the run, allegedly attacked a haulage truck driver, Talkmore Vinga, who was refuelling along the Bulawayo/Harare highway close to the Dzivaresekwa turn-off st around 10pm.
A co-worker, who witnessed the attack, called his bosses before taking Vinga to Sally Mugabe Hospital where he later died on October 6.
They also attacked two other victims, taking cash and valuables before disappearing.
On September 26 at around 5am, Chikadzi together with Chihungwa, Chayambuka and an accomplice approached Honest Musara who was waiting for his wife parked just after the Kuwadzana Extension turn-off.
One of Chikadzi’s accomplices attacked Musara with a stone on the head before they dragged him out of his vehicle demanding his cellphone and money.
Chikadzi took US$300 and a cellphone from Musara before running away.
On October 8, the crew attacked Fredy Chigumira who had stopped along Bulawayo Road.
They smashed his car window and struck him on the head at the same time.
They got away with US$2 100 which was in Chigumira’s pocket and a Samsung S22.
One of Chikadzi’s accomplices was apprehended by soldiers who witnessed the robbery.
The accomplice led to the arrest of Chikadzi, Chihungwa and Chayambuka. Chikadzi appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi yesterday charged with murder and two counts of robbery.
He was remanded in custody to December 15 and advised to apply for bail at the High Court.