UNISON Challenges Government Over Taxes For Migrants, UK

Main Category: Public Health
Article Date: 22 Feb 2008 - 3:00 PDT

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UNISON, the UK's leading public service union, challenged the government over plans to force UK immigrants to pay added charges for the public services they use.

Greg Thomson, UNISON National Development Manager for Migrant Workers commented:

"Immigrant workers make a very positive contribution to the UK's public services. Without overseas nurses, for example, the NHS would crumble - damaging the very services the government claims they are trying to protect.

"Moreover, the Treasury's own figures in 2000 showed immigrant's made a contribution in tax to the tune of £2.5 billion, well over the amount they claimed in benefits. There is no indication to show that this situation has changed since 2000.

"Public services need to be properly funded by the government. Charging immigrants is a mere gesture which will not raise a significant amount of revenue, but will clearly have damaging consequences.

http://www.unison.org.uk