UNISON Appeals For Urgent Action Over Care Worker Deportations, UK

Main Category: Caregivers / Homecare
Also Included In: Public Health
Article Date: 15 Aug 2007 - 1:00 PDT

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UNISON, the UK's largest public sector union, is calling for urgent Government action, to stop the wholesale deportation of much needed, highly skilled senior care workers. The union is making representations to the government as a result of a growing number of pleas for help from care workers across the UK. The complaints come from workers who currently care for the elderly in residential care homes and in the community but face deportation because of unfair changes to the immigration rules.

The union is also exploring the possibility of mounting a legal challenge to the Home Office's revised policy decision not to issue any more new or renew any existing work permits for senior care workers.

Heather Wakefield, UNISON's Head of Local Government, said:

"These senior care workers are a tried and tested workforce who, day in day out, deliver high quality care to the elderly. This is a real vocation and we simply cannot afford to lose this skilled and dedicated workforce.

"These are the people who make such a difference to the comfort and security of elderly residents in care homes across the country. They also provide home care services that give the support needed to elderly people, to allow them to stay in their own homes, instead of being forced into residential care.

"UNISON will be doing all it can and adding its weight to the growing number of voices protesting at this unfair change in policy."

UNISON is also sending out urgent guidelines to staff in its regions to help them respond to the growing number of requests for help from members threatened with deportation.

Heather Wakefield went on to say: "We have to move quickly or it may be too late for some members who have already been refused new work permits. We are also working with employers on this issue and issuing advice about steps to take if their staff are refused permits."

http://www.unison.org.uk