Category: immigration

Government should be ashamed of trading lives for votes over Rwanda

Commenting on the Rwanda bill clearing its final parliamentary hurdle, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said today (Tuesday):

“Nothing more clearly demonstrates the cruelty and moral bankruptcy of this government than the ghastly Rwanda law it has finally pushed through parliament.

“For ministers to be gleeful at the export of vulnerable people, including children and victims of modern slavery, is a disgrace.

“The UK is trading away its humanitarian duties and turning its back on people in genuine need, who get no second chance.

“There’s no proof that any of this will stop the boats as the Prime Minister says it will. He and the rest of the government should hang their heads in shame for gambling with people’s lives in a desperate and costly electioneering stunt.”

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:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Liz Chinchen M: 07778 158175 E: press@unison.co.uk

The article Government should be ashamed of trading lives for votes over Rwanda first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government should focus on fixing social care, not playing politics with people’s lives

Commenting on the annual report by the Migration Advisory Committee published today (Wednesday) calling for wage hikes for low-paid care workers, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“The care sector is a lifeline for so many people. Yet there’s still no plan to fix social care, more than four years after a Conservative prime minister said he had one.

“The government seems intent on worsening the crisis by playing politics with migrant workers’ lives, rather than tackling record vacancies.

“Care work is highly skilled. The sector needs a long-term funding plan that significantly boosts wages and offers a career path with training.

“A national care service would be the best way to help millions of families who need this vital support.”

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:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Government should focus on fixing social care, not playing politics with people’s lives first appeared on the UNISON National site.

Government should focus on fixing social care, not playing politics with people’s lives

Commenting on the annual report by the Migration Advisory Committee published today (Wednesday) calling for wage hikes for low-paid care workers, UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said:

“The care sector is a lifeline for so many people. Yet there’s still no plan to fix social care, more than four years after a Conservative prime minister said he had one.

“The government seems intent on worsening the crisis by playing politics with migrant workers’ lives, rather than tackling record vacancies.

“Care work is highly skilled. The sector needs a long-term funding plan that significantly boosts wages and offers a career path with training.

“A national care service would be the best way to help millions of families who need this vital support.”

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:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: a.barnes@unison.co.uk
Fatima Ayad M: 07508 080383 E: f.ayad@unison.co.uk

The article Government should focus on fixing social care, not playing politics with people’s lives first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON condemns government plans to hike visa fees for migrants

UNISON has condemned the government’s plans to hike the fees charged to migrant people for visa applications.

The cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge – a double tax migrant workers have to pay to access healthcare – is set to increase from £624 to £1,035 a year for each person.

This is a 417% increase over the past five years. Work visas are set to increase by 15% and the cost of other visas could rise by 20%.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims that this will fund public sector pay rises.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The government announcement to hugely increase the charges for migrant visas and the immigration health surcharge will push more people into poverty.

“Migrant workers make an immense contribution to public services day in, day out through their hard work and tax contributions, just like other UNISON members.

“They should be made to feel welcome and treated with respect, not punished for the failure of this government to fund public services properly.”

UNISON has long campaigned to reduce visa fees and abolish the Immigration Health Surcharge, which was introduced in 2014 as part of former home secretary Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ for migrants.

Workers who are on the Health and Social Care Visa (skilled worker) will not be affected by the rise in surcharge. The cost of this visa is also set to increase however.

Health and social care workers who are on other visas will have to pay the surcharge up front, but be able to claim a refund on the costs.

Ms McAnea continued: “Migrant workers already experience high levels of costs when renewing visas. UNISON has seen first-hand the impact this has had on members.

“We heard distressing cases of UNISON members working on the pandemic front line going without food so they could feed their children after visa renewals left them with no money. Visa fees don’t just hit bank balances – it leaves families destitute.”

Speaking to the Guardian, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said: “The UK already effectively taxes migrants twice for healthcare and has some of the most extortionate visa fees in Europe – a migrant family of four often has to pay about £50,000 over 10 years for the right to stay.

“This massive increase is simply unaffordable – it will price workers out of affording a visa and force thousands further into poverty during the cost of living crisis, or out of the country.”

UNISON works with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) to provide immigration advice to members who have come to work in the UK. If you would like to get some advice please call us on 0800 0 857 857 and we’ll arrange an appointment for you.

The article UNISON condemns government plans to hike visa fees for migrants first appeared on the UNISON National site.

UNISON condemns government plans to hike visa fees for migrants

UNISON has condemned the government’s plans to hike the fees charged to migrant people for visa applications.

The cost of the Immigration Health Surcharge – a double tax migrant workers have to pay to access healthcare – is set to increase from £624 to £1,035 a year for each person.

This is a 417% increase over the past five years. Work visas are set to increase by 15% and the cost of other visas could rise by 20%.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak claims that this will fund public sector pay rises.

UNISON general secretary Christina McAnea said: “The government announcement to hugely increase the charges for migrant visas and the immigration health surcharge will push more people into poverty.

“Migrant workers make an immense contribution to public services day in, day out through their hard work and tax contributions, just like other UNISON members.

“They should be made to feel welcome and treated with respect, not punished for the failure of this government to fund public services properly.”

UNISON has long campaigned to reduce visa fees and abolish the Immigration Health Surcharge, which was introduced in 2014 as part of former home secretary Theresa May’s ‘hostile environment’ for migrants.

Workers who are on the Health and Social Care Visa (skilled worker) will not be affected by the rise in surcharge. The cost of this visa is also set to increase however.

Health and social care workers who are on other visas will have to pay the surcharge up front, but be able to claim a refund on the costs.

Ms McAnea continued: “Migrant workers already experience high levels of costs when renewing visas. UNISON has seen first-hand the impact this has had on members.

“We heard distressing cases of UNISON members working on the pandemic front line going without food so they could feed their children after visa renewals left them with no money. Visa fees don’t just hit bank balances – it leaves families destitute.”

Speaking to the Guardian, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants said: “The UK already effectively taxes migrants twice for healthcare and has some of the most extortionate visa fees in Europe – a migrant family of four often has to pay about £50,000 over 10 years for the right to stay.

“This massive increase is simply unaffordable – it will price workers out of affording a visa and force thousands further into poverty during the cost of living crisis, or out of the country.”

UNISON works with the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) to provide immigration advice to members who have come to work in the UK. If you would like to get some advice please call us on 0800 0 857 857 and we’ll arrange an appointment for you.

The article UNISON condemns government plans to hike visa fees for migrants first appeared on the UNISON National site.