Home Office unaware if foreign workers leave UK after visas end, MPs say

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A recent report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has highlighted the lack of knowledge within the Home Office regarding the whereabouts of foreign workers once their visas expire. The committee, tasked with scrutinizing government spending, pointed out that the Home Office has not conducted any analysis of exit checks since the introduction of the skilled worker visa route in 2020, during the Conservative administration.

Since its inception in December 2020, approximately 1.18 million individuals have applied to enter the UK through the skilled worker visa route, which replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa post-Brexit. The aim of this visa route was to address skill shortages and job vacancies in crucial sectors like health and social care, particularly in response to the challenges brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Despite the significant influx of individuals entering the UK through this route, the PAC criticized the Home Office for its lack of diligence in monitoring the movements of these workers once their visas expire. The committee noted that the department still relies on airline passenger records to determine if someone has left the country and has not conducted any thorough analysis of these records since 2020.

Additionally, concerns were raised about the exploitation of workers within the skilled worker visa route, with reports of individuals facing debt bondage, working excessive hours, and enduring exploitative conditions. The Home Office was accused of being slow and ineffective in addressing these issues and ensuring the welfare of workers. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced plans to end overseas recruitment for care workers as part of efforts to reduce near-record levels of net migration, while Home Office Permanent Secretary Dame Antonia Romeo acknowledged that overstaying is a problem being actively addressed by the department

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