Politics · United Kingdom · 1 day ago
Migrant workers protest UK plans to extend settlement wait to 15 years
Migrant workers and their supporters protested outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool against proposed UK immigration changes.
Some wore chains and sang Asa’s song “Jailer” to highlight concerns about workers being tied to employers and vulnerable to exploitation.
The plans would make care staff, NHS employees and some lower-paid public service workers wait up to 15 years to qualify for permanent settlement, rather than the current five.
UNISON organised the protest through its Fair Visa Campaign and wants the five-year period kept for skilled workers.
It also wants a sector-wide visa sponsorship system for social care workers, which it says could reduce exploitation.
The changes matter to Nigerian workers because Nigeria is among the leading sources of people recruited for UK care jobs.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government was considering concerns that parts of the proposals were unfair and would seek a balance, but no final decision is given.
Migrant workers and supporters protested proposed UK settlement rules outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool on 28 September.
The proposals could extend the qualifying wait for permanent settlement from five years to 15 years for some workers.
More than 400 people took part, with many wearing chains and singing Asa’s song “Jailer”.
UNISON called for the proposals to be dropped and for the five-year qualifying period to remain for skilled workers.
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the government would seek to balance fairness for legal migrants and British citizens.
- Who
- Migrant workers and their supporters, including UNISON members, protested.
- What
- They opposed proposed settlement rule changes that could extend the wait to 15 years for some workers.
- When
- Monday, 28 September; the year is not stated in the article’s account of the protest.
- Where
- Outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, UK.
- Why
- They opposed plans that could make some workers wait longer for permanent settlement and, UNISON said, increase insecurity and vulnerability to exploitation.
UNISON and protesting migrant workers
UK government
Settlement wait
UNISON and protesting migrant workers
UNISON wants the current five-year qualifying period retained for skilled workers.
UK government
The proposed rules would require care staff, NHS employees and lower-paid public service workers to wait 15 years.
Visa sponsorship
UNISON and protesting migrant workers
UNISON supports a sector-wide sponsorship system for social care workers to reduce vulnerability to exploitation.
UK government
The government’s position on this proposal is not stated.
The NHS, social care and other essential services rely on the hard work of migrant staff
come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally, and fairness to British citizens
leaving an exploitative workplace or speaking out
UK Home Office statistics show 18,143 Nigerian nationals were granted visas to work as care workers and home carers.
Migrant workers and supporters protested outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool.
Shabana Mahmood said the government would seek a position balancing fairness for legal migrants and British citizens.
- Protest attendance
- More than 400 people
- Protest location
- Outside the Labour Party conference, Liverpool
- Proposed settlement wait
- 15 years for care staff, NHS employees and lower-paid public service workers
- Current qualifying period
- Five years
- Nigerian care worker and home carer visas in 2023
- 18,143
Sources
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