Political figures across Yorkshire and Humberside must do more to tackle exploitation of migrant workers in the region, says UNISON
Politicians across Yorkshire must step up and take serious action to crack down on the exploitation of migrant care workers, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
Increasing numbers of migrant workers in the care sector have been joining UNISON over the past year and reporting incidents of exploitation they have experienced.
These include being forced to pay thousands of pounds in illegal fees to their sponsors before their employment begins, with many workers selling their homes and possessions to fund it, the union says.
Many of the workers are unaware that such fees are illegal, and those who have paid often find there is either no work available, very few hours or excessive levels, says UNISON.
Workers who speak out are threatened with dismissal, the withdrawal of their certificate of sponsorship and the repayment of thousands of pounds of debt accrued in unlawful fees, rent from tied accommodation and training, says the union.
Migrant workers have also told UNISON that some sponsors refuse to provide references, or make inaccurate and libellous claims when they do.
Workers are legally required to have a sponsor from a company licensed by the Home Office in order to come to the country to work. If the worker leaves their job with that employer, they have 60 days to find another sponsor or are required to leave the country, in accordance with visa rules.
As a result, many migrant workers are afraid to report their employer’s poor behaviour, because any licence removal by the Home Office will mean their sponsorship and employment ends, giving them just 60 days to find another or leave the UK, says the union.
UNISON has learned that 33 companies in the Yorkshire and Humberside region had licences revoked in the past year, affecting more than 5,000 sponsorships.
Migrant workers on the health and social care visa don’t have any recourse to public funds if they lose their jobs, leaving them in poverty, says UNISON.
UNISON is aware of a number of companies exploiting migrant workers that are commissioned by local authorities to provide care.
The union has met with councils across the region to discuss what can be done to tackle the mistreatment of migrant workers. However, no real progress has been made.
It is crucial local politicians step up and enforce real change to bring an end to the current exploitation of the overseas workforce, says UNISON.
A choir of migrant workers has been set up in the Yorkshire and Humberside region with the help of UNISON to provide an informal support network. Barnsley Caring Voices is also aiming to raise awareness of the issues affecting migrant workers in the town and across the region.
However, some migrant care staff are too scared to even attend choir practices for fear of repercussions from their employer, the union adds.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside migrant worker lead Jordan Stapleton said: “The treatment of these workers is abhorrent. People travel to the UK, often leaving families behind, to care for some of the most vulnerable members of our society.
“But their experiences are completely unacceptable. It’s time for councils in the region to take the issue seriously and stop sweeping this scandal under the carpet.
“Some examples of treatment have been reported as modern slavery. Migrant workers have presented evidence of their treatment to councils, but there’s precious little to show they are tackling it.
“Politicians across Yorkshire and Humberside must step up and punish these exploitative employers and ensure these vital workers are treated with dignity and fairness.”
Ella, a migrant care worker in the region said: “Coming to a new place with limited support has been a daunting experience for us.
“Many of us were promised a much better life, which was used to entice us into paying fees to make this move – but the reality has been far from what was promised.
“We’ve faced long hours – sometimes working 16-hour days but being paid for only six hours or as little as two and a half. We have no work-life balance, no leave, no training, and minimal support.
“It’s a frustrating and unsustainable way of living. Personally, I have experienced multiple emotional breakdowns because of the situation.
“Speaking up about these issues often leads to the threat of dismissal, leaving us with just 60 days to secure a new certificate of sponsorship, or return to a home country where many have sacrificed everything to make the move.
“This journey is certainly not for the faint-hearted.”
Notes to editors:
– The key issues highlighted by migrant workers to UNISON include:
Paying fees of thousands of pounds to the sponsors, directly or indirectly, for their sponsorship
Fees being held as debt against the workers, which is used to prevent them speaking out
Working excessive hours (often 6am to 11pm) for six or more consecutive days
Not getting paid for travel time and fuel
Tied accommodation that is poor quality and for rent above the market rate
Threats of dismissal and removal of sponsorship to prevent whistleblowing
Workers arriving in the UK and provided with no work
Workers getting few or no hours, which means they do not get paid the annual salary stipulated by the visa scheme
Sponsors refusing to provide references as a means of control
Sponsors providing inaccurate and libellous references that ruin the career prospects of workers
Sponsors making malicious and false safeguarding allegations when a worker is working their notice.
– UNISON conducted a report into the exploitation of migrant care workers last November called Expendable Labour: the exploitation of migrant care workers.
– Migrant care workers are only able to work in health and social care, due to the terms of their visas. They are allowed to work 20 additional hours for an employer who isn’t their sponsor, as long as it is care work.
– UNISON is in contact with the Yorkshire and Humberside international recruitment lead, and the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) over the issues raised by migrant workers.
– Barnsley Caring Voices has published a video online of a song explaining the situation faced by migrant workers. It can be seen here.
– 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 contact:
Jack Goodman M: 07545 662694 E: j.goodman@unison.co.uk