Key facts
- Migrant care workers may face a 10-year wait for permanent residency under a proposed Home Office plan.
- Campaigners and unions describe the proposed change as "cruel" and "unconscionable."
- The proposal is reportedly backed by a minister who is now facing political repercussions.
- Workers have shared harrowing accounts of exploitation, including poor living conditions and excessive working hours.
- The current visa system ties workers to specific employers, creating a power imbalance and enabling abuse.
A proposal by a UK Home Office minister to double the required time for care workers to qualify for permanent residency to 10 years has sparked outrage among workers' rights campaigners and the affected individuals.
Minister Mike Tapp reportedly suggested excluding migrant care workers from retrospective changes to settlement rules, a move that has led to a political dispute with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. Mahmood has called for Tapp's dismissal and restricted his access to sensitive information, with suggestions he leaked internal policy discussions.
Campaigners and experts argue that Tapp's proposal is the correct approach, warning that the current plans risk exacerbating exploitation within the care sector. Dr. Dora-Olivia Vicol, CEO of the Work Rights Centre, described the potential change as "cruel and unconscionable," especially for workers who legally came to the UK to fill a labor call. Gavin Edwards, head of social care at Unison, called the proposed change a "slap in the face" for care workers who have supported a vital public service.
Migrant care workers shared personal testimonies of severe exploitation. Josephine, who came from Zimbabwe in 2022, recounted living in a shed with a bucket for a toilet and facing threats of deportation if she spoke out. Carla, from Nigeria, described working extremely long hours with no days off, feeling trapped by her visa sponsorship tied to a single employer. Both expressed devastation and fear over the potential extension of the settlement requirement, which would prolong their vulnerability to abuse.