The United Kingdom has made changes to its planned immigration reforms, but most migrants will still have to wait 10 years instead of five to qualify for permanent residency.
However, hundreds of thousands of foreign care workers will be allowed to keep the existing five-year route, provided they meet the required conditions.
The revised policy was announced on Monday following strong opposition from trade unions and some members of the ruling Labour Party. They had raised concerns about how the changes would affect low-paid foreign workers, especially those in the care sector.
Last year, the British government proposed making lower-skilled foreign workers wait between 10 and 15 years before they could apply for indefinite leave to remain, the official status for permanent residency.
But the latest changes have removed hundreds of thousands of care workers from the extended waiting period.
The decision is particularly important for Nigerians working in Britain’s health and social care sector, which depends on foreign workers to address staff shortages.
Despite the exemption, the government will still increase the normal waiting period for permanent settlement from five to 10 years.
The new rules are expected to begin next year and will also affect migrants who are already living and working in the UK.
