How will settlement reforms impact children and medium-skilled workers?
The Home Affairs Committee continues its inquiry into reforms to routes to settlement with sessions focussing on the impact on children and workers.
Meeting details
As part of its commitment to reduce net migration, the Government has announced major changes to eligibility for Indefinite Leave to Remain, also known as settlement. The standard baseline qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain will be extended from five to ten years. Under the proposals, the amount of time immigrants need to wait before they can apply for Indefinite Leave to Remain will be adjusted based on contributions – such as their earnings or work in specified public services. Some immigrants may need to wait for 20 to 30 years before they qualify for settlement.
The Committee will question charities and providers of legal services on the impact that extending these routes could have on children and young people. This will include the effect on children’s integration and education and how the system could work for young people who become adults before their parents receive Indefinite Leave to Remain. It will explore the impact of the reforms on the risk of migrant children falling into poverty and whether problems in the current system could be exacerbated.
The session will also explore the impact of reforms to rules affecting medium-skilled workers, who would now have to wait 15 years for settled status. The Committee will question business, trade union and social care representatives on the impact of the proposals on recruitment, costs and workers’ rights.