Joint Letter Defending Migrant Workers
I have signed a joint letter opposing the Government’s proposed changes to settlement rights, organised by Labour’s Neil Duncan-Jordan MP. The letter, which has also been signed by Unison Union’s General Secretary Andrea Egan, more than 50 MPs, 21 Peers and 33 civil society organisations, has been sent to the Home Office to urge Ministers to think again.
The Government’s plan to double the qualifying period for Indefinite Leave to Remain to 10 years, and to 15 years for care workers, would create deep uncertainty for people who have already built their lives here.
Migrant workers who came here in good faith, who work hard and pay their taxes should be treated fairly.
I am particularly concerned about the impact on the care sector. Adult social care is already facing approximately 110,000 unfilled vacancies. Care workers, many of whom are born abroad, provide dignity and comfort to our loved ones, often in difficult conditions and for low pay. Extending their route to settlement to 15 years risks driving people away from a sector that is already under immense strain.
I want to raise standards in the care sector for everyone. All care workers that serve our communities, whether British or born abroad, deserve better conditions and higher pay that reflects the value and importance of their work. The care sector has the potential to offer secure, high-quality careers to people across Britain. By improving standards, we can strengthen recruitment and retention, build a stable workforce, and ensure that urgent vacancies are filled. Raising standards is not just good for workers, it is essential for the quality of care people rely on.
In our letter to the Home Office, MPs have made two clear recommendations.
The Government should halt the consultation process until a full Impact Assessment has been published. Sweeping immigration reforms should not be made without transparency about their likely consequences for the economy, public services and communities.
The Government must rule out retrospective application of any new rules. Thousands of families have planned their futures around the current system. Applying harsher rules to people already here would undermine trust in the Government.
I regularly meet with members of the Hong Kong community in Stockport to discuss their concerns about proposed changes to the BNO Visa route. More than 200,000 people from Hong Kong have used this route to settle in the UK, and they make an incredibly valuable contribution to our communities. I have raised my concerns regarding these proposals in Parliament with the Government, and I will continue to speak up for the Hong Kong community - https://shorturl.at/5Tt7z
I have also recently met with NHS workers from Stockport who are part of UNISON's migrant workers' campaign. Many of these staff are dedicated healthcare assistants, domestic staff and emergency care assistants who told me they are facing the possible loss of their jobs, and potentially their right to remain in Britain, because of recent changes to Home Office salary thresholds. Migrant NHS workers make an invaluable contribution to our health service and I am committed to supporting a resolution that allows them to continue the vital work they do in our community.
The Letter
