# Mahmood may exempt social care workers from longer settlement wait

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/shabana-mahmood-is-set-to-water-down-her-migrant-crackdown-for-around-half-a-million-migrants-next-week-who-will-dodge-tough-new-right-to-remain-rules/
- Published: 2026-10-31T14:09:13+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-31T14:17:16+00:00
- Original publisher: Daily Mail (publisher lean: Right)
- Original article: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-16254669/Shabana-Mahmood-migrant-crackdown-remain-rules.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490
- Topics: Business, Markets, World

## Key points

- Social care workers may be exempt from longer settlement waits.
- Most workers could face a ten-year wait under the proposals.
- Mahmood is due to announce the final rules next week.

## Summary

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to exempt migrant social care workers from a proposed extension to the wait for permanent UK settlement, with a decision due in Parliament next week. The possible change follows criticism from Labour figures, local leaders and trade unions, as the Government faces pressure both to reduce immigration and to protect the care workforce.

Mahmood had proposed raising the usual qualifying period from five to ten years, with some lower-paid workers potentially waiting up to 15 years. Migrants account for about 32 per cent of care worker roles, or more than half a million people in a sector with 1.59 million workers; around 430,000 are thought to be non-EU nationals. The Government consultation on settlement rules received more than 200,000 responses, and the final proposals are expected to include shorter waits for some higher earners or people who contribute to their communities.

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.