UNISON’s national delegate conference has passed a motion led by the South West region calling for urgent reforms to protect migrant care workers from exploitation.
South West delegate Adekunle Akinola told conference: “Migrant workers are having to often work 60 hours a week. What we are seeing ticks all the boxes of modern-day slavery.”
The motion highlighted how current visa rules tie workers to a single employer, leaving them vulnerable to abuse. It calls for the introduction of a Certificate of Common Sponsorship to allow care workers to move between employers without risking their immigration status.
South West delegate Lydia Kabute said: “I speak as a migrant worker. Many of us receive real wages of less than £4 an hour. This is modern-day slavery and it is happening in our care sector.
“We cannot be bystanders. If we say we are anti-racist, then we must act.”
Conference heard evidence of employers charging migrant workers up to £20,000 to come to the UK, withholding wages, providing unsafe housing and threatening deportation. Some migrant care workers report working up to 100 hours a week or receiving no work at all.
The motion commits UNISON to:
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Campaign for a Certificate of Common Sponsorship
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Expand the union’s Migrant Workers Network
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Improve access to legal and support services
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Recruit and organise more migrant worker members
UNISON South West regional secretary Kerry Baigent said “This important motion was led by our migrant worker members in direct response to what we are seeing across social care. These are essential workers are facing unacceptable conditions and unscrupulous employers.
“UNISON will keep organising and fighting for the rights of migrant workers.”
