UK News- Scotland Can’t Depend on Migrants for Social Care Roles, Warns Labour Leader Anas Sarwar
Edinburgh, November 22, 2025 – BNN Web, UK Desk
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has warned that Scotland cannot continue relying on migrant workers to plug gaps in the social care sector, amid backlash over the UK government’s proposed immigration reforms. His comments follow concerns from industry groups that the changes could devastate Scotland’s already strained care workforce.
Speaking after Scottish Labour’s policy conference in Edinburgh, Sarwar emphasized the need to fix the UK’s “broken immigration system” while prioritizing better pay and training for domestic workers. “I do not think it appropriate to pay poverty wages to social care workers then rely on immigrants to come and fill those jobs,” he told. “Because we are not properly paying or skilling individuals in our own country to take those jobs.”
The remarks come at the end of a turbulent week for UK immigration policy, with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiling sweeping changes that extend wait times for permanent settlement – known as Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) – for many visa holders.
Industry Fears ‘Profoundly Negative Impact’
Scottish Care, representing independent providers, slammed the proposals as “insensitive to Scotland’s distinct needs” and urged Labour to push back against them. Chief executive Donald Macaskill expressed deep concern: “Scotland’s care sector is already facing acute workforce shortages. Forcing dedicated care workers to wait up to 15 years for settlement… will deter much-needed talent from staying in Scotland.”
The group highlighted the “vital role” international workers play in filling vacancies, warning that the reforms could exacerbate the ongoing crisis.
Sarwar acknowledged the sector’s challenges but advocated for homegrown solutions: “The way that we address that crisis is properly funding social care… But it also means giving value to social care workers.” He called for clear career pathways to retain Scottish talent, including nurses, doctors, and teachers educated in the country.
UK’s Proposed Immigration Overhaul: Key Changes
The reforms, set to roll out from spring 2026 after a consultation ending February 12, aim to create a “managed migration system.” They apply to around 2.6 million arrivals since 2021 and include:
- Standard Wait Time: Increased from 5 years to 10 years for most work and family visa holders.
- Extended Delays Based on Criteria:
- 15 years for those claiming benefits for less than 12 months.
- 15 years specifically for post-Brexit health and social care visa holders.
- Up to 20 years for migrants reliant on benefits for over 12 months – the longest wait in Europe.
- Exemptions and Adjustments: Shorter waits possible under certain conditions; does not affect those already with ILR.
Sarwar backed the overall proposals, stressing the need for balance: “Scotland would always be an open, welcoming and tolerant nation… but it needed a skills system that does not rely on migrant workers.”
Labour’s Vision: ‘Big, Bold and Meaningful Change’
At the conference, Sarwar outlined ambitious pledges ahead of next May’s Holyrood election, positioning Labour as the alternative to “more failure, more incompetence and more waste” under SNP leader John Swinney.
Key announcements included:
- Mental Health Emergency Response Service: A new “emergency service” to handle mental health crises, freeing up 360 police officers for frontline duties.
- Apprenticeships Boost: 9,000 new spots to build skills and opportunities.
- Community Policing Support: Enhanced resources to tackle local issues.
Promising a government that “works as hard as the people it serves,” Sarwar vowed to deliver transformative policies if elected.
Scottish Government Hits Back
The Scottish Government accused the UK of “hostile and restrictive migration policies” harming the NHS and social care. Health Secretary Neil Gray said: “In Scotland, we need a migration system that works for our NHS and social care sector. Until we have the full powers over migration that will come with independence, we will do all we can… to mitigate the UK Government’s harmful approach.”
The proposals build on Mahmood’s earlier asylum overhaul, which replaces permanent refugee status with temporary, reviewable grants every 30 months.
As debates intensify, the reforms highlight tensions between economic needs, workforce shortages, and immigration controls – with Scotland’s care sector caught in the crossfire.
