Thursday 5 March 2026
For immediate release
Migrant workers deserve dignity and recognition for their essential roles, says UNISON
Commenting on a speech by the home secretary today (Thursday) about immigration reforms, UNISON head of social care Gavin Edwards said:
“The UK’s health and care services would collapse but for the contributions of skilled workers who’ve come from overseas. Many of them are doing critical jobs for woeful wages and deserve far more.
“For Shabana Mahmood to suggest low-paid workers don’t contribute to the country isn’t in line with the values people expect from Labour.
“Nor is the idea social care staff are somehow ‘low skilled’, simply because they’re on rock-bottom wages. And keeping refugees in perpetual limbo when they’re fleeing persecution certainly isn’t a Labour value.
“The party should stand for the dignity of working people and recognise their essential jobs. Not judge people by the size of their wage packets.
“Low-paid health and care workers have vital roles communities can’t live without. The pandemic taught us that.
“Keir Starmer’s previously said his care worker sister deserves the same respect as the prime minister. That’s a message his colleagues should heed.
“The government must think again about trebling the settlement period for crucial migrant health and care staff. Otherwise the workforce crisis will just get worse.”
Notes to editors:
– Shabana Mahmood’s full speech can be found here.
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union with more than 1.3 million members providing public services in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Dan Ashley M: 07908 672893 E: d.ashley@unison.co.uk
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