I Find This Action Incomprehensible

[Bobbisox1]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/immigration-surcharge-fees-nhs-workers-budget-2020-a9395521.html

How can * they* even think of doing this at this time?
These nurses and Doctors are vital in the running of the NHS and should not be penalised , they aren’t the ones coming to our shores on dinghys ,they are providing a special service to us in Britain, this should be scrapped forthwith

[woofgang]

yes its all immigrants...I think its everyone here on a work visa.

[AuntPollyGrey]

Bobbi £10 per month extra is hardy 'substantial'. If they want to come over to the UK and take advantage of all the benefits (with a small b) then they must be prepared to follow rules. This applies to all workers not just those in the NHS, why should they get special dispensation because frankly they are doing the job they decided to do and are paid well for.

[ubasses]

I understand that if they had been given indefinite leave to remain they did not have to pay. I would have thought that most of NHS staff would come into that category. Then again I could be wrong on that point.
Just had a scout around and found this which confirms the indefinite leave to remain bit.
https://www.davidsonmorris.com/immigration-health-surcharge/

[bednobs]

Ummmm indigenous nurses do not have to pay an immigration health surcharge here because it applies to immigrants only

[Bobbisox1]

They are paying their taxes the same as we are so why are they paying a sur charge too ?

[THECORBYLOON]

UMMMM, the immigrants pay these fees only because they are immigrants not for training and also pay at least £900 to get into the country.

[bednobs]

Bobbi are you saying it should be waived for NHS workers only or all immigrants?

[Bobbisox1]

///surcharge///

[ToraToraTora]

ummm so you say our nurses pay a fee but you have no idea how much or what for! so how do you know they pay a fee?

[bednobs]

also, the ones coming to our shores on dinghys don't pay it either!

[Bobbisox1]

For those that have entered legitimately , and are paying taxes the same as you and me are, they’re working and putting into the economy , why are they paying a surcharge ?

[ummmm]

TTT - because I've seen it posted online by nurses.

[Spicerack]

Why £900, corby?

[bednobs]

perhaps for the times they are not working?

[Prudie]

It's not done to say anything negative about NHS staff at the moment but this is for all immigrant workers. They might be paying taxes once here but this is for benefits that will be available from the time they arrive, something the rest of us having been paying for all our working lives. I can't see that it's unfair - and Spicey is correct, a huge number of NHS staff are not busy at the moment, how can they be.

[bednobs]

the £900 is a visa fee

[THECORBYLOON]

It's the cost of the visa. From the link,

"This is on top of what have already been described as “sky-high” visa fees for people coming to work in the UK – which currently stand at £1,220 per person, or £900 for those on the shortage occupation list – among the highest in the world."

[Bobbisox1]

3Ts, my daughter pays a yearly fee as a dental nurse but I believe this to be more an ‘insurance’ although it is paid to the Faculty of Dental Surgery

[AuntPollyGrey]

Bobbi I think the surcharge is aimed at those people who come to work for a couple of years on minimum wage so pay no tax, take advantage of all the Benefits (with a big B), send the lions share of their wages home then tittle off back to whence they came having built up a nice little nest egg . Trouble is they can't have one rule for one type of worker and one for another.

[AuntPollyGrey]

The UK pays the highest wage for nurses in the European community. We also have 'Free' healthcare and better Benefit system. If immigrant workers want to take advantage of this then they have to contribute accordingly.