Unison Leader Accuses Labour of Perpetuating Modern Slavery in Care Sector
Andrea Egan, the general secretary of Unison, has launched a scathing critique against the Labour government, asserting that Britain's care system effectively promotes modern slavery. In a powerful statement, she argues that a genuinely humane administration would prioritize comprehensive reforms to address these deep-seated issues.
Visa Proposals: An Assault on Working-Class Migrants
New government proposals threaten to force poorly paid migrant workers into extended waiting periods for earned settlement, a move Egan describes as nothing short of an assault on working-class individuals. Under these changes, low-paid public sector employees, including essential care workers, could face a 15-year wait for indefinite leave to remain, drastically up from the five years initially promised. This policy shift risks entrenching a culture of fear and exploitation that already plagues the sector.
The Vital Role of Migrant Workers in Health and Social Care
Without migrant workers, Britain's health and social care systems would grind to a halt. Statistics reveal that more than a fifth of the NHS workforce comprises migrant staff, with a similar proportion nationally in care work, soaring to half in London. Despite their critical contributions, these workers have increasingly become political scapegoats, particularly under the current Labour government.
Exploitative Practices and Systemic Failures
The existing visa system ties care workers to their employers, leaving them vulnerable to severe abuse and exploitation. Reports include instances of months without pay, endless work without days off, and grueling 16-hour shifts with compensation for only two hours. Egan highlights harrowing accounts from Unison members, such as a domiciliary care worker from India who faces threatening conversations ending with the word 'visa,' and another who describes the emotional and mental exhaustion as losing oneself to fear.
Government Inaction and the 'Bad Apple' Myth
When Unison raises these concerns, politicians often dismiss them as isolated cases involving a few 'bad apple' employers. However, insecure work, zero-hour contracts, illegally low pay, and exploitative practices are endemic across the social care sector. The sponsorship system has effectively institutionalized modern slavery, with workers silenced under the punitive threat of deportation.
Labour's Betrayal of Core Values
Egan condemns the Labour government for extending this heartless system, despite Unison's national campaign led by migrant members. The proposals not only attack migrant care workers but also undermine the party's basic principles by offering rapid settlement routes for high earners while forcing lower-paid workers to endure prolonged suffering. This hierarchy perpetuates the false notion that care work is low-skilled due to low pay, a perverse logic that ignores the high skill involved and successive governments' failure to value it properly.
Crisis in Care: Staff Shortages and Unmet Needs
England's care system is on the brink of collapse, with Age UK estimating 2 million older people and up to 1.5 million working-age disabled individuals lacking adequate support. The sector faces severe staff shortages, with vacancy rates among the highest and nearly a quarter of workers leaving annually. Rooted in low pay, four in five jobs elsewhere offer better wages, pushing care workers into poverty and food insecurity.
Unison's Stand and Political Advocacy
Unison remains steadfast in defending its members, regardless of origin. Through the Fair Visa Campaign, migrant members have mobilized significantly, organizing one of the largest parliamentary lobbies in modern history with 700 workers meeting MPs. Recently, over 70 parliamentarians joined in opposing the unfair indefinite leave to remain changes. Egan urges Labour MPs to reject far-right tactics, drop the earned settlement proposals, and champion the entire working class.
Unison pledges to use its unparalleled resources to challenge any politician failing to uphold these basic principles, emphasizing that the fight for justice in the care sector is non-negotiable.
