Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Ezekiel Oyero
Published on 2024-03-11 23:16:15
The Government of the United Kingdom has implemented a new policy that bars emigrating health and care workers from bringing their dependents with them. This decision was announced by the UK Home Office via a statement published on their official website. The aim of this new law is to reduce migration and address abuse of the care worker visa system. The statement highlighted that in 2023, 120,000 dependents accompanied 100,000 workers to the country, prompting the need for stricter regulations.
As part of these measures, care providers in England acting as sponsors for migrants will now be required to register with the Care Quality Commission (CQC), the regulatory body for Health and Social Care. This step is intended to combat worker exploitation and abuse within the sector. The overall impact of these changes means that approximately 300,000 people who were eligible to come to the UK last year will no longer be able to do so.
The announcement of this policy has sparked a range of reactions among Nigerians, especially those active on social media platforms. One Nigerian UK-based lawyer, Dele Olawale, described the policy as a “home breaker and life destroyer,” emphasizing the potential impact on marriages and families. Similarly, Harvey Olufunmilayo expressed confusion and disapproval of the policy, questioning the logic of asking individuals to leave their families behind while caring for others in a foreign country.
In Nigeria, the exodus of healthcare professionals, including doctors, has been a growing concern. The Minister of Health and Social Welfare revealed that over 16,000 doctors had left the country in the last five years, with an additional 17,000 being transferred. This brain drain has left Nigeria with only 55,000 licensed doctors to serve a population of over 200 million. The Minister further disclosed that out of 85,000 to 90,000 registered Nigerian doctors, a significant number are practicing abroad, particularly in the US and UK.
The UK Home Secretary, James Cleverly, justified the implementation of the new policy by citing the need to address abuse, manipulation of the immigration system, and unsustainable migration levels. He stressed the importance of taking action to reduce these numbers and ensure a more ethical and sustainable approach to international recruitment. The Minister for Social Care, Helen Whately, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing the reforms as a means to enhance the domestic workforce and improve the social care sector.
Overall, the UK’s decision to bar emigrating health and care workers from bringing their dependents has elicited varied reactions and raised concerns about the impact on individuals, families, and healthcare systems in both the UK and countries of origin like Nigeria. The focus now shifts to how these changes will be implemented and what strategies will be put in place to address the underlying issues driving these policies.
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