Blog: The final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system

The government has put the final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system. The home secretary’s announcement of new immigration plans will sacrifice migrant care workers and risk a total collapse of the UK’s care system, just to appease extremist Tory backbenchers.

The health and care visa was introduced in 2020 to plug workforce gaps, but because headlines of soaring immigration numbers are compounding Rishi Sunak’s polling problems, he’s playing roulette with our essential services.

Had he, or his ministers, spoken to any employer in the care sector, they would know that any plans to curb the migrant care workforce will cause utter disaster. Not allowing migrant care workers to bring any dependants with them to the UK, will do exactly that. Potential recruits will be put off coming to the UK, and the ones already here may have to send dependants home when their visas come up for renewal.

Staff vacancies will soar from the current number of 152,000, and I don’t see a queue of British workers waiting to take up those posts. We will see care homes closing and care companies going bust.

UNISON had just released findings of appalling abuse of the migrant workers propping up social care, in its report Expendable Labour. These new plans will leave migrant care workers vulnerable to more abuse, as they can only come to the UK isolated, with no close family with them.

Finally, everyone in the UK can see what little regard this government has for the people who rely on social care, for care workers and their employers. But why would government ministers be so careless with people’s lives and so reckless with one of the biggest industries in the UK?

Maybe it’s because its workforce is predominantly low-paid women, doing work they view as low value and low intelligence. This was made clear yesterday by the home secretary in his announcement in the House of Commons.

While migrant care workers won’t be allowed to bring family with them to the UK, he said that international students coming to the UK on postgraduate research programmes could bring dependants, because, as he said, “we always want to attract the global brightest and best”.

I find the stirring of culture wars and spouting of anti-immigrant rhetoric sickening. I’ve clashed with characters from the far right on TV recently and when they talk about ‘British culture’, I’m left confused. Because I always thought we were a country that strived to be caring and welcoming. But what’s more callous than putting our older and vulnerable citizens at risk and being hostile to the people who come here to care for them.

The article Blog: The final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: The final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system

The government has put the final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system. The home secretary’s announcement of new immigration plans will sacrifice migrant care workers and risk a total collapse of the UK’s care system, just to appease extremist Tory backbenchers.

The health and care visa was introduced in 2020 to plug workforce gaps, but because headlines of soaring immigration numbers are compounding Rishi Sunak’s polling problems, he’s playing roulette with our essential services.

Had he, or his ministers, spoken to any employer in the care sector, they would know that any plans to curb the migrant care workforce will cause utter disaster. Not allowing migrant care workers to bring any dependants with them to the UK, will do exactly that. Potential recruits will be put off coming to the UK, and the ones already here may have to send dependants home when their visas come up for renewal.

Staff vacancies will soar from the current number of 152,000, and I don’t see a queue of British workers waiting to take up those posts. We will see care homes closing and care companies going bust.

UNISON had just released findings of appalling abuse of the migrant workers propping up social care, in its report Expendable Labour. These new plans will leave migrant care workers vulnerable to more abuse, as they can only come to the UK isolated, with no close family with them.

Finally, everyone in the UK can see what little regard this government has for the people who rely on social care, for care workers and their employers. But why would government ministers be so careless with people’s lives and so reckless with one of the biggest industries in the UK?

Maybe it’s because its workforce is predominantly low-paid women, doing work they view as low value and low intelligence. This was made clear yesterday by the home secretary in his announcement in the House of Commons.

While migrant care workers won’t be allowed to bring family with them to the UK, he said that international students coming to the UK on postgraduate research programmes could bring dependants, because, as he said, “we always want to attract the global brightest and best”.

I find the stirring of culture wars and spouting of anti-immigrant rhetoric sickening. I’ve clashed with characters from the far right on TV recently and when they talk about ‘British culture’, I’m left confused. Because I always thought we were a country that strived to be caring and welcoming. But what’s more callous than putting our older and vulnerable citizens at risk and being hostile to the people who come here to care for them.

The article Blog: The final hammer blow to our crumbling social care system first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all

UNISON has gathered evidence of appalling exploitation of migrant workers by unscrupulous care bosses.

Care is one of the biggest industries in the UK, but also one of the most precarious. It’s broken, on the brink of collapse and only being propped up by the work of migrants.

Workers from abroad have sold everything they own to come here and care for people. But instead of receiving decent pay and conditions, and being treated with dignity and respect, the UK government is letting employers get away with terrible practices that should be consigned to history.

Our report, Expendable Labour details shocking treatment of migrant care workers in the UK care system.

We found the ultimate abuse of workers. Brought over here on false promises of a better life and charged dodgy fees that cost them their homes and savings. Some find they’re either overworked on 80 hours a week, or given too few hours to survive off. Given inadequate training, living in poor conditions and threatened with deportation if they speak out.

To top it off, ministers are demonising migrant workers by blaming them for all the country’s woes. They’re complicit in allowing the abuse to continue and in a raging culture war that’s now targeting low paid migrant workers.

Rather than focusing on fixing social care and ensuring decent pay and care for those who need it, the likes of Robert Jenrick, Minister for Immigration, are happy to see the care system completely collapse. His suggestions of capping visas for care workers and his desire to prevent them from bringing children or other dependent family members with them, will only make the problems in care worse.

Any increase on the current 152,000 care staff vacancies spells deep trouble for the whole sector.

So we’re calling on the government to take urgent action to stop that from happening.

Immigration reform and the creation of a national care service are the answer.

Visa extensions would allow care workers more time to seek employment with a new sponsor, and a national care service would ensure decent pay, terms and conditions to prevent abuse and exploitation.

Fixing social care ultimately means guaranteed support for those who need it. But it would also help to grow our economy. And what better way to do it, than through a national care service that everyone can be proud of.

The article Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all

UNISON has gathered evidence of appalling exploitation of migrant workers by unscrupulous care bosses.

Care is one of the biggest industries in the UK, but also one of the most precarious. It’s broken, on the brink of collapse and only being propped up by the work of migrants.

Workers from abroad have sold everything they own to come here and care for people. But instead of receiving decent pay and conditions, and being treated with dignity and respect, the UK government is letting employers get away with terrible practices that should be consigned to history.

Our report, Expendable Labour details shocking treatment of migrant care workers in the UK care system.

We found the ultimate abuse of workers. Brought over here on false promises of a better life and charged dodgy fees that cost them their homes and savings. Some find they’re either overworked on 80 hours a week, or given too few hours to survive off. Given inadequate training, living in poor conditions and threatened with deportation if they speak out.

To top it off, ministers are demonising migrant workers by blaming them for all the country’s woes. They’re complicit in allowing the abuse to continue and in a raging culture war that’s now targeting low paid migrant workers.

Rather than focusing on fixing social care and ensuring decent pay and care for those who need it, the likes of Robert Jenrick, Minister for Immigration, are happy to see the care system completely collapse. His suggestions of capping visas for care workers and his desire to prevent them from bringing children or other dependent family members with them, will only make the problems in care worse.

Any increase on the current 152,000 care staff vacancies spells deep trouble for the whole sector.

So we’re calling on the government to take urgent action to stop that from happening.

Immigration reform and the creation of a national care service are the answer.

Visa extensions would allow care workers more time to seek employment with a new sponsor, and a national care service would ensure decent pay, terms and conditions to prevent abuse and exploitation.

Fixing social care ultimately means guaranteed support for those who need it. But it would also help to grow our economy. And what better way to do it, than through a national care service that everyone can be proud of.

The article Blog: The shocking treatment of migrant workers harms us all first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government must drop cruel migrant curbs and end exploitation in social care

The government must drop plans to cap overseas care staff numbers and act to stop employers exploiting those already working in the UK, says UNISON today (Tuesday).  

The union says proposals reportedly being drawn up by immigration minister Robert Jenrick to curb migration would be disastrous for adult social care. The draft plans are understood to include a limit on overseas care staff numbers and a ban on them bringing dependants here.

In a new report, Expendable labour, UNISON highlights how care staff are propping up a crumbling care system and calls for the government to end the exploitation they face. 

The document calls for a change in visa rules so migrant care staff aren’t deported when care firms collapse and these workers lose their jobs.

The report highlights cases where overseas workers have sold all they own to come here, only for their care employer to close down, lose their council contract or sack staff on baseless grounds.    

The report also details harrowing accounts of abusive practices suffered by migrant care staff. The union says the workers have been encouraged to come here to fill staffing gaps in care homes and domiciliary care.  

These employees have faced demands for excessive fees from recruitment agents in return for jobs in the UK, had money deducted from wages if they try to leave, and had to pay extortionate rents for substandard accommodation.  

UNISON has also uncovered evidence of migrant care staff forced to work shifts lasting 19 hours without breaks, who have experienced racial abuse, and been threatened with dismissal and deportation.   

Cases highlighted in the report Expendable labour include:

– A recruitment agent in India asking for £12,000 to ‘introduce’ a care worker to a UK employer.
– A care employer demanding £4,000 for ‘training costs’ when the employee tried to leave for an NHS job, and then withholding their work reference.
– Migrant workers invoiced for administration costs including £65-an-hour fee for meeting them at the airport and £395 for a ‘cultural induction’.
– Companies passing on Home Office charges to staff that employers should be paying themselves, such as the immigration skills charge. 

The report says many care workers are being lured to the UK and then given no choice but to accept poor working conditions when they get here. 

Current immigration rules make it hard for care staff to leave a job unless they can find a new sponsor.  

Skilled overseas workers, which include care staff, currently have 60 days to find a new employer and sponsor. The union says this is not long enough and is calling for a change in visa rules. A visa extension would allow overseas care workers more time to find new employment, says UNISON.  

This will prevent employers threatening deportation if staff try to leave their jobs, says UNISON.  

In addition, the union wants immigration rules to change so that migrant care workers will only have to pay once for a work visa, and not every time they get a new job. 

Other recommendations outlined in the report include that ministers should provide councils with new guidance on how to tackle unscrupulous care employers. 

UNISON says cash-strapped local authorities should get help from the government to intervene. This should be in the form of a dedicated fund to enable them to clamp down on abuse.  

UNISON also says recruitment of care staff overseas should only take place via agencies on the ethical recruiters list run by the NHS. A national care service would ensure that care staff were paid properly, the union added.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The care system would implode without migrant care staff. Demonising these workers will do nothing to solve the social care crisis.

“Overseas care workers have been encouraged to come here to support those most in need, only for some employers to treat them as expendable labour. Ministers must stop being complicit in allowing this abuse to happen. 

“The government needs to reform immigration rules, not make them more draconian. Minister’s attention would be far better focused on fixing care and boosting pay so careers in the sector are more attractive. 

“It’s time to stop scapegoating migrants and instead give councils greater funding to tackle those exploiting them.”

Notes to editors:  
– Click here to read the report.
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.
Case studies:
A care worker from the Philippines whose employer made him redundant says: “We’ve been dropped like we no longer exist. I need to support my family but my new job hasn’t started yet. I’m also worried that I may have to cover the costs of finding a new sponsor.”
  
A care worker from Nigeria, paid around £7,000 to an agent, which included visa expenses. The care worker says: “I love taking care of people, but I don’t think the company has enough work. The only way to leave is to get another sponsor. I’ve sold everything so I can’t return to Nigeria.” 

Media contact:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk   

The article Government must drop cruel migrant curbs and end exploitation in social care first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government must drop cruel migrant curbs and end exploitation in social care

The government must drop plans to cap overseas care staff numbers and act to stop employers exploiting those already working in the UK, says UNISON today (Tuesday).

The union says proposals reportedly being drawn up by immigration minister Robert Jenrick to curb migration would be disastrous for adult social care. The draft plans are understood to include a limit on overseas care staff numbers and a ban on them bringing dependants here.

In a new report, Expendable labour, UNISON highlights how care staff are propping up a crumbling care system and calls for the government to end the exploitation they face.

The document calls for a change in visa rules so migrant care staff aren’t deported when care firms collapse and these workers lose their jobs.

The report highlights cases where overseas workers have sold all they own to come here, only for their care employer to close down, lose their council contract or sack staff on baseless grounds.

The report also details harrowing accounts of abusive practices suffered by migrant care staff. The union says the workers have been encouraged to come here to fill staffing gaps in care homes and domiciliary care.

These employees have faced demands for excessive fees from recruitment agents in return for jobs in the UK, had money deducted from wages if they try to leave, and had to pay extortionate rents for substandard accommodation.

UNISON has also uncovered evidence of migrant care staff forced to work shifts lasting 19 hours without breaks, who have experienced racial abuse, and been threatened with dismissal and deportation.

Cases highlighted in the report Expendable labour include:

– A recruitment agent in India asking for £12,000 to ‘introduce’ a care worker to a UK employer.
– A care employer demanding £4,000 for ‘training costs’ when the employee tried to leave for an NHS job, and then withholding their work reference.
– Migrant workers invoiced for administration costs including £65-an-hour fee for meeting them at the airport and £395 for a ‘cultural induction’.
– Companies passing on Home Office charges to staff that employers should be paying themselves, such as the immigration skills charge.

The report says many care workers are being lured to the UK and then given no choice but to accept poor working conditions when they get here.

Current immigration rules make it hard for care staff to leave a job unless they can find a new sponsor.

Skilled overseas workers, which include care staff, currently have 60 days to find a new employer and sponsor. The union says this is not long enough and is calling for a change in visa rules. A visa extension would allow overseas care workers more time to find new employment, says UNISON.

This will prevent employers threatening deportation if staff try to leave their jobs, says UNISON.

In addition, the union wants immigration rules to change so that migrant care workers will only have to pay once for a work visa, and not every time they get a new job.

Other recommendations outlined in the report include that ministers should provide councils with new guidance on how to tackle unscrupulous care employers.

UNISON says cash-strapped local authorities should get help from the government to intervene. This should be in the form of a dedicated fund to enable them to clamp down on abuse.

UNISON also says recruitment of care staff overseas should only take place via agencies on the ethical recruiters list run by the NHS. A national care service would ensure that care staff were paid properly, the union added.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The care system would implode without migrant care staff. Demonising these workers will do nothing to solve the social care crisis.

“Overseas care workers have been encouraged to come here to support those most in need, only for some employers to treat them as expendable labour. Ministers must stop being complicit in allowing this abuse to happen.

“The government needs to reform immigration rules, not make them more draconian. Minister’s attention would be far better focused on fixing care and boosting pay so careers in the sector are more attractive.

“It’s time to stop scapegoating migrants and instead give councils greater funding to tackle those exploiting them.”

Notes to editors:
– Click here to read the report.
– 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.
– Case studies:
A care worker from the Philippines whose employer made him redundant says: “We’ve been dropped like we no longer exist. I need to support my family but my new job hasn’t started yet. I’m also worried that I may have to cover the costs of finding a new sponsor.”
A care worker from Nigeria, paid around £7,000 to an agent, which included visa expenses. The care worker says: “I love taking care of people, but I don’t think the company has enough work. The only way to leave is to get another sponsor. I’ve sold everything so I can’t return to Nigeria.”

Media contact:
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Government must drop cruel migrant curbs and end exploitation in social care first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop

The damage has already been done by years of chaotic Conservative governments.

Sluggish growth, plummeting living standards and broken public services. That’s the legacy of 13 years of an ever-revolving door of prime ministers and ministers who can’t be trusted with the economy.

Jeremy Hunt’s desperate claims to fix the economic problems that his party caused won’t pull the wool over voters’ eyes. He’s simply giving back what he and his inept predecessors have already snatched from working people.

If the government really wanted to save on benefits for disabled people, it would give them more rights at work so employers don’t make their jobs impossible. And if ministers wanted to help more people back into work, they would fix our underfunded and understaffed NHS to get millions of people the treatment they’re desperate for.

But this is the government that broke the NHS, forcing experienced health professionals out to find better paying jobs elsewhere.

If the government cared about communities, it would reverse the trend of councils going bust and plug the huge budget deficits threatening essential services for children and vulnerable adults.

But this is a government that fails to understand the value of local authorities and the staff who work for them.

Public services and the pay of its dedicated workforces didn’t get a look in, aside from being told to deliver more for less. In-crisis essential services can’t give the public what they need and this government certainly won’t.

What the UK needs is a long-term plan to fund our public services properly, unlock growth and help everyone fulfil their potential.

Today, we were taken around another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom loop. Everybody feels worse off, public services are on their knees and this government is past its sell by date.

The article Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop

The damage has already been done by years of chaotic Conservative governments.

Sluggish growth, plummeting living standards and broken public services. That’s the legacy of 13 years of an ever-revolving door of prime ministers and ministers who can’t be trusted with the economy.

Jeremy Hunt’s desperate claims to fix the economic problems that his party caused won’t pull the wool over voters’ eyes. He’s simply giving back what he and his inept predecessors have already snatched from working people.

If the government really wanted to save on benefits for disabled people, it would give them more rights at work so employers don’t make their jobs impossible. And if ministers wanted to help more people back into work, they would fix our underfunded and understaffed NHS to get millions of people the treatment they’re desperate for.

But this is the government that broke the NHS, forcing experienced health professionals out to find better paying jobs elsewhere.

If the government cared about communities, it would reverse the trend of councils going bust and plug the huge budget deficits threatening essential services for children and vulnerable adults.

But this is a government that fails to understand the value of local authorities and the staff who work for them.

Public services and the pay of its dedicated workforces didn’t get a look in, aside from being told to deliver more for less. In-crisis essential services can’t give the public what they need and this government certainly won’t.

What the UK needs is a long-term plan to fund our public services properly, unlock growth and help everyone fulfil their potential.

Today, we were taken around another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom loop. Everybody feels worse off, public services are on their knees and this government is past its sell by date.

The article Blog: Another cycle of the Tories’ economic doom-loop first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Autumn statement is a cynical ploy that won’t fool the public

Commenting on the autumn statement today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: 

“This is a desperate attempt to press the reset button and present the government as the party of change. But it’s too little too late and can’t undo the damage done. 

“It’s a cynical ploy ahead of an early election. The government is on the ropes and wants to shift attention from its dire poll ratings.  

“The chancellor is simply giving back what he and his inept predecessors have already snatched from working people. No one will be fooled. They will still be worse off.

“Yet again public services didn’t get a look in, aside from being told to deliver more for less. But in-crisis essential services can’t give the public what they need. 

“Disabled people don’t want and shouldn’t have to rely on benefits. They need more rights at work, so they’re not forced out of their jobs by unsympathetic employers.”  

Notes to editors:
– 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:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Autumn statement is a cynical ploy that won’t fool the public first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Autumn statement is a cynical ploy that won’t fool the public

Commenting on the autumn statement today (Wednesday), UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: 

“This is a desperate attempt to press the reset button and present the government as the party of change. But it’s too little too late and can’t undo the damage done. 

“It’s a cynical ploy ahead of an early election. The government is on the ropes and wants to shift attention from its dire poll ratings.  

“The chancellor is simply giving back what he and his inept predecessors have already snatched from working people. No one will be fooled. They will still be worse off.

“Yet again public services didn’t get a look in, aside from being told to deliver more for less. But in-crisis essential services can’t give the public what they need. 

“Disabled people don’t want and shouldn’t have to rely on benefits. They need more rights at work, so they’re not forced out of their jobs by unsympathetic employers.”  

Notes to editors:
– 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:
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Autumn statement is a cynical ploy that won’t fool the public first appeared on the UNISON National site.