Immigration Regulation On Medical Insurance Restaurant Business

03 Jul 2010

UK government stated that the soaring rates of immigration in the UK are pressurizing the housing, schools and financial burdens on National Health Service. On 30th June 2010, Theresa May, Home Secretary announced that all UK work visa holders will have to get private health insurance in the country and this step is initiated to reduce the burden on NHS. All non-EU immigrants will have to get private health care. However, they will be provided treatment in cases of emergency and accidents.

The interim cap introduced by the UK government will not affect foreign workers coming to the UK on intra-company transfers, investors or entrepreneurs moving to the UK. Hence, only one out of seven prospective migrants coming to the UK will be affected. May said that the move is being introduced in view of the piling burden on UK’s public services.

Foreigners in UK already possessing UK work permits will be exempted but will have to apply once they renew their work permit making it necessary for them to seek medical insurance.

The restaurant industry relying on chefs and cooks migrating to UK is getting affected.  Mathrani, chairman of Marsala World, warned that the regulation would make the business vulnerable as highly specialized cooks and chefs in his business are recruited from India in whom the tastes and smells have been ingrained in them from a very early age.  He said that he would prefer to expand his business in Middle East or Far East where more sensible visa requirements exist.