UNISON General Secretary Christina McAnea writes for The Mirror as Keir Starmer’s government announces major changes to immigration rules for care workers
The care sector would have collapsed years ago if it weren’t for the thousands of workers who’ve come here from overseas. Changes to immigration rules have been in the news a lot and migrant care staff will be feeling understandably nervous about their futures.
The government must do all it can to reassure these essential workers – they’re welcome to stay in the UK and continue their vital work. Under the new rules, care companies must stop bringing in staff from overseas. But workers have pretty much stopped coming to the UK anyway.
Some of the dreadful things said about migrants, a ban on bringing families and the exploitation by dodgy employers means care visa applications have plummeted. Some corrupt care bosses have treated overseas staff appallingly. Workers are housed in overcrowded accommodation, often sharing beds, and subjected to terrible treatment.
It’s no way to treat workers propping up the UK’s crisis-stricken care service and ministers must crack down on these abuses. Politicians should also stop describing care jobs as ‘low-skilled’. Care work can be very rewarding, but it’s tough and demanding too.
High levels of skill are required and huge amounts of empathy. Anyone with a relative in a care home knows this only too well.
The care sector’s been in crisis for years, stuck in a doom-loop of staffing shortages. Few want to work in care, mostly because wages are so low. People know they can earn more delivering parcels or making coffees on the high street. But with many thousands of workers down, the sector can’t provide enough care for everyone needing it.
This has a huge impact on the NHS. Elderly people who fall or become ill often go to A&E because there’s nowhere else. But once in hospital, they can’t be discharged because there’s no care available. Care has been ignored for years. This government has plans, but ministers must get on with them, make the promised fair pay agreement happen and fund the sector properly.
New employment rights laws will help care jobs become more attractive. Zero-hours contracts will be outlawed, and workers will get sick pay from the first day they’re ill. When the fair pay agreement boosts wages, employers will be able to start recruiting the staff required to deliver the national care service the country so desperately needs.