Ghanaian migrants living and working in the United Kingdom may find some relief in London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s renewed call for the UK government to review its latest immigration rules, which unions say could put hundreds of Transport for London (TfL) workers at risk of losing their jobs.
The new visa regulations, introduced in July 2025, raised the salary threshold for visa sponsorship to £41,700 a year and removed several transport roles from the “skilled worker” list. The changes have left many migrant workers, including Ghanaians employed across London’s transport network, facing uncertainty about their future.
Mr. Khan told the London Assembly on 9 October that the new rules had “left TfL staff in limbo” and said he supported efforts to have the measures paused. His deputy for transport, Seb Dance, has also written to the migration minister urging immediate protection for affected TfL employees.
The Transport Salaried Staffs’ Association (TSSA) warned that as many as 300 TfL workers could face deportation under the new policy, most of them employed as customer service assistants and station staff. The RMT union said some workers could be removed as early as November.
For Ghanaians in the UK, many of whom hold skilled worker or graduate visas and work in transport, healthcare, and other essential sectors, the Mayor’s intervention offers hope that their contributions to the UK economy will be recognised.
The outcome of the Mayor’s appeal could determine whether many of these workers are able to continue living and working in the UK. The changes could also reopen opportunities for students and dependents affected by stricter visa restrictions introduced in recent years.
Any relaxation of the rules could further help sustain the flow of remittances to Ghana, one of the country’s most important foreign exchange sources, and support ongoing bilateral ties between Accra and London.
The Home Office has yet to respond to the Mayor’s call but maintains that the immigration reforms are designed to “restore order” and “end dependence on lower-skilled international recruitment.”
For now, Ghanaian migrants and other affected groups are watching closely, hoping that the review will lead to a fairer system that values skills and contribution over income level, keeping families together and livelihoods intact.
