Visa rethink is only way to avoid deepening staff crisis in social care

Hundreds of international care workers will converge on Westminster from across the UK today (Wednesday) urging the government to abandon “cruel” visa change plans likely to worsen staffing shortages and put vital services at risk, says UNISON.Many are taking their case directly to Downing Street this afternoon in a delegation led by  general secretary Andrea Egan as they hand a letter to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer highlighting the devastating impact the changes will have on them and the people they look after.

The letter to Sir Keir, signed by Andrea and staff on health and social care visas affected by the proposals, emphasises the “vital, sensitive and demanding work” they carry out each day.

They call on the PM to halt plans that would make care workers wait 15 years to qualify to settle in the UK, instead of the current five years.

The letter points out insecure work, low pay and threats are rife for the workers, who were recruited to help tackle chronic staffing shortages in social care on the promise of being able to settle after five years.

It goes on to say: “Policies that make it harder to recruit and retain care workers ultimately affect the quality and availability of care”.

The workers, who have led UNISON’s Fair Visa Campaign, will also lobby their MPs in Parliament. They want the government to make changes to the visa sponsorship scheme to clamp down on widespread exploitation.

“Far too many people are stuck in hospital because there isn’t the capacity to arrange the care they need to leave. That puts pressures on the NHS, causes heartbreak for families and leaves vulnerable people stranded.

“This is a cruel policy that goes against British values. Staff were recruited to fill critical gaps in the workforce on the basis that they could settle here after five years.

“It’s an outrage to change the rules after they’ve arrived and have devoted themselves to this essential work.

“The five-year route must remain, and the power of visa sponsorship must be removed from employers. Taking care of carers means fewer people will suffer alone.”

Notes to editors:
– Last December, hundreds of migrant workers travelled from across the UK to lobby MPs in Westminster. They shared their experiences of exploitation under the sponsorship system and warned ministers about the impact of plans to extend the route to settlement. The campaign escalated on 24 April, with MPs lobbied across the UK alongside a mass leafleting event in Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood’s constituency. Wednesday’s day of action takes that campaign to Downing Street and the Home Office.
– Key timings and location for photo and filming opportunities today (Wednesday):
2.30pm – Demonstration departs Parliament Square (assembly from 1.45pm) along Whitehall to No.10 Downing Street.
3pm – Downing Street: UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan will arrive with the delegation at Downing Street and deliver a letter to the prime minister.
3pm – Home Office (2 Marsham St, London SW1P 4DF): A separate group of migrant care workers will hold a vigil in memory of workers who have taken their own lives or died after experiencing exploitation under the sponsorship system.
4.15pm – Rally in Parliament Square addressed by Andrea Egan.
– Migrant care workers will be available to talk about their experiences on request.
– 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.