Migrant care workers from the South West met UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea on Tuesday to share their experiences of exploitation, abuse and unsafe visa rules, ahead of a major lobby of Parliament next month.
Christina met activists, including Adekunle Akinola and Lydia Kabute, to discuss the growing hostility faced by migrant workers and the failures in the current sponsorship system. Many care staff report verbal and physical attacks, as well as intimidation by employers who hold too much power under the government’s visa scheme.
Visas are issued to employers rather than workers. UNISON says this traps migrant care workers in unsafe jobs and prevents them from moving within the sector without risking their immigration status. The union is calling for a sector-wide visa model that would give staff the freedom to work safely and speak out about poor treatment.
UNISON also warned that government plans to double the qualifying period for settled status from five to ten years will increase exploitation. Retrospectively changing the rules will leave many workers in limbo and undermine trust in the immigration system.
UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The toxic language on immigration is fuelling bigotry and it is leaving UNISON migrant members fearful of walking the streets.
“Migrant care workers have been verbally and physically attacked by those emboldened by an anti-immigrant agenda. Care workers from overseas have been asked to come here to prop up a crumbling sector, yet many are having to deal with racial abuse and exploitation at the hands of immoral employers, who use the threat of deportation to stop staff from speaking out.
“Private care companies and agencies have too much power over migrant care staff because visas are issued to employers rather than the workers themselves. That leaves bad bosses free to bully and intimidate staff. Ministers must rethink their plans to double the wait for settled status and fix this unfair system.”
Migrant health care worker and UNISON activist Adekunle Akinola said: “We shared powerful experiences of the harm caused by the current sponsorship system and the urgent need to decouple visas from individual employers. Christina listened with empathy and committed to leading us to Parliament with the full mandate of UNISON members.
“I encourage colleagues to keep mobilising and to book transport for the lobby on 17 December.”
