TUC welcomes migrant policy shift but warns of worker insecurity

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He backed the changes which, after considerable union pressure, eased restrictions on care workers seeking the right to settle permanently in Britain, but warned that the revised measures would still leave many workers unsure of their future.

Mr Nowak called the move “a welcome rethink from the Home Secretary and shows the government has listened to care workers and their unions on key concerns.

“Migrant care workers do valuable and essential work in our care sector. They work around the clock to provide care for our loved ones and keep the sector running — after recruitment and retention crises caused by years of underfunding.

“That’s why it is important that the government has changed course. But this policy must now be put into place fairly.

“We need a sector-wide visa so workers can change employers, rather than having to put up with abuse, poor conditions and exploitation.”

Ms Mahmood claimed that the changes, which will extend the time period before qualifying for indefinite leave to remain for many migrant workers, will save the taxpayer money, albeit less than the £10 billion previously indicated.

The revised plans scrap her earlier proposal to make care workers and others wait for 15 years, up from five at present, to secure such leave.  

Now such workers will qualify after five years provided they earn at least £25,000 per year.

The climbdown is a win for Unison and other unions, as well as Cabinet members led by Communities Secretary Angie Rayner, who campaigned against the proposed increase as “unBritish.”

“There will be savings in the billions, but of course, allowing people to settle at five years, given the unique contribution of care workers in particular, obviously that does have an impact on the numbers,” Ms Mahmood said today.

Asylum Minister Anna Turley said that immigration levels had been too high in recent years and that young British people should be the priority.

Mr Nowak warned that “the government’s proposals would leave many workers in sectors as diverse as prisons, transport and research unsure about their future.

“Workers in those sectors making a contribution to our economy and communities should also have a fair route to settlement,” he stressed.

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