UNISON, the UK’s largest public sector trade union, staged a national day of action on Friday, 24 April, as care workers and union supporters across Britain voiced strong opposition to the government’s proposed immigration changes targeting migrant workers in the social care industry.
The government’s so-called “earned settlement” plan would raise the minimum period migrant care workers must wait before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain from five years to fifteen years. UNISON warns this move could seriously worsen staffing shortages in a sector that already depends on overseas workers for roughly 30% of its workforce, even as new arrivals to the sector have been declining.
The union has also criticised the current visa sponsorship arrangement, which ties a worker’s immigration status directly to their employer. UNISON argues this leaves migrant staff vulnerable to exploitation and prevents them from freely moving to better jobs without risking their right to stay in the country.
UNISON General Secretary Andrea Egan described the proposals as morally indefensible, stressing that migrant workers have been holding up the health and social care system and deserve security rather than greater uncertainty. She also warned that the sector is already under serious strain with high vacancy rates, and that pushing experienced overseas workers away would only deepen the crisis.
The union is urging the government to drop the proposed extension altogether, replace the current employer-tied visa system with a sector-wide arrangement giving workers greater freedom to change jobs, and move forward with a fair pay agreement for care workers.
To support migrant care workers in the meantime, UNISON has backed a searchable online database developed with the Autonomy Institute and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The tool draws on Home Office and Care Quality Commission data to help workers find licensed sponsoring employers across the UK, making job changes easier without jeopardising their visa status.