Care Forum Wales Manifesto 2026

CARE FORUM WALES | MANIFESTO

DELIVERING ON THE REAL LIVING WAGE

FIX THE VISA

The social care sector in Wales relies on international workers due to ongoing challenges in recruiting locally. We reject the former Home Secretary’s claim that care workers lack skill. This work demands both expertise and compassion, qualities that cannot be taught and are not universally found. International staff consistently demonstrate a strong caring ethos and are a valued part of our workforce. Employers do not recruit internationally to save money. They invest significant resources in the process and are now required to pay international staff more than the RLW promised to domestic workers. They do so because these individuals have the right values and skills, and because there are not enough local workers to meet demand. Wales faces a demographic challenge, with an ageing population and a shrinking working-age population. The shortage of care workers is especially severe in rural areas. Recent policy changes, including restrictions on dependants and stricter recruitment conditions, have led to a sharp decline in international applications.

Our workforce is our greatest strength. Care workers are skilled, compassionate and essential to the wellbeing of our communities. The Real Living Wage (RLW) is a vital step toward recognising their value, but it must be properly funded to make a real difference. We welcomed Welsh Government’s commitment to the Real Living Wage, but we’ve been calling for a long time for a better way of assessing and delivering funding across Wales. Some local authorities and health boards “include” RLW in fee uplifts but that means nothing unless the total fee meets full operating costs. Without a clear and consistent funding mechanism, the promise of fair pay will continue to fall short.

Care workers deserve more than praise. They need pay and conditions that reflect their responsibility and professionalism. Until funding supports this, recruitment and retention will continue to suffer. We invite Welsh Government and commissioners to work with us urgently to resolve this problem. By identifying the funding required and ensuring it reaches the frontline, we can turn the principle of fair work into a shared reality. Let us make the Real Living Wage a success for care workers, providers and the people they support.

The closure of the visa route has worsened this trend and risks driving away existing staff due to increasingly negative messaging from Westminster. We should celebrate the contributions of international care workers, especially their dedication during the pandemic. Concerns about modern slavery and illegal migration should not be conflated with legitimate recruitment. The UK Government must take responsibility for preventing abuse of the system without penalising ethical providers and the people who rely on their services. We call on the Welsh Government to follow the example of the Scottish Government by taking over direct sponsorship of the international visa for social care workers to support ethical recruitment and help address the workforce shortage. We also call for better oversight of public sector commissioning practices. Cost- driven models can allow inexperienced or unethical organisations to enter the market, undermining quality and safety.