Councils and local government unionists have slammed Government plans which would force local authorities to recruit care workers from inside the EU. UNISON national secretary, Heather Wakefield, has called for an ‘urgent rethink' of the Home Office's Migration Advisory Committee's new migration plan. Under the proposals, only highly-skilled care workers – earning at least £8.80 per hour – can be hired from outside the EU, while the current average salary for care workers is £6.25. Ms Wakefield claimed the Government would have to put forward extra funds to make the higher fees affordable for care homes. She said the plan would ‘disrupt care services and risk lives by creating a serious skills shortage'. Council care services are already under huge financial strain. Director of resources for Kent adult social services, Caroline Highwood, said: ‘My concern with these proposals is that employers will have to pay more to attract replacement staff, which would put pressure on costs and placements would become more expensive.' The effect of the proposals will be to reduce by almost one third the number of posts available to non-Europeans. To see the list, go to www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/.aboutus/workingwithus/indbodies/mac/macfirstshortagelist/