28 November 2023 , 00:01
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Care workers have described the harrowing abuse and exploitation they face after coming to the UK to prop up the broken sector.
Ministers are weighing up capping the number of overseas staff in the NHS and care system after a backlash over record net migration. But in a scathing new report Unison called on the Government to stop demonising workers after cruel cases of racism, threats and financial abuse were uncovered.
Trade union Unison says care workers from overseas are propping up a "crumbling" system, but face being kicked out of the UK if their employer goes bust. One worker from the Philippines, who was made redundant when their employer handed back a council contract, told researchers: "I came here because I was needed. Now that I need help, I’m getting nothing."
Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick is weighing up capping overseas care workers (Tayfun Salci/ZUMA Press Wire/REX/Shutterstock)It is estimated that 16% of care staff are from overseas. One support worker from Sri Lanka said: “I feel exploited. I’m never allowed additional days off. My employer turns down my request every time. I often start at 7am, don’t get home until 11pm and rarely get to see my daughter for a few days in a row.”
The union called on the Home Office to change visa rules to ensure those who lose their jobs through no fault of their own don't face deportation. A worker from Nigeria currently doing fewer hours than expected said: “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.”
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Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick is drawing up plans to bring down a record 745,000 net migration figure from 2022 - including a reported bid to cap the number of overseas health and care workers. Unison warns this would be "disastrous".
In a new report, named Expendable Labour, it found thousands of people have been enticed to the UK to fill gaps in the sector. In some cases they sold everything they had only for their employer to shut down, lose their council contract or get sacked on "baseless" grounds.
Many are forced to pay excessive fees from recruitment agencies, have money deducted from their pay if they try to change jobs or pay over the odds for accommodation.
In some cases migrant care staff have had to work 19 hour shifts with no break, and experienced racial abuse. In one case a worker from India was charged £12,000 for an agency to introduce them to a UK employer.
In another instance an employer demanded £4,000 in training costs when the worker tried to take an NHS job, and their reference was withheld. Unison said it was aware of staff being hit with Home Office charges that employers should be paying themselves.
Under current rules staff who lose their jobs have 60 days to find a new employer and sponsor or face deportation. Unison is calling for this to be extended, saying the rule means companies can threaten workers with deportation if they try to leave.
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. Ministers' 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."
A Home Office spokeswoman said: “We do not tolerate abuse in the labour market and where we identify exploitative practices are being undertaken by sponsors we take action. This can include the revocation of their licence.
“The Gangmaster and Labour Abuse Authority is working with other law enforcement agencies to identify illegal working and those found operating unlawfully will face prosecution or removal from the sponsorship register.”
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