UNISON general secretary Andrea Egan has renewed the union’s call for a fairer visa system that protects migrant care workers from exploitation and recognises their contribution to Britain’s social care system.
Egan discussed the campaign with care worker Princess Akinwale and Tribune editor Oliver Eagleton ahead of an interview due to be published next week.
In a post on X, she said:
“Discussing our migrant workers’ campaign against the Government’s proposals to extend the Indefinite Leave to Remain period and for a sector-wide visa with care worker Princess Akinwale and Tribune editor Oliver Eagleton—look out for the interview next week.”
UNISON is urging the government to retain the existing five-year route through which eligible care workers can apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Under proposals currently being considered, the standard qualifying period for permanent settlement could increase from five to ten years, with some care workers potentially required to wait for as long as 15 years.
The union argues that extending the qualifying period would be deeply unfair to people who came to Britain legally, worked in essential services, paid taxes and built their lives in local communities.
It is also campaigning for care workers to receive sector-wide visa sponsorship rather than having their immigration status tied to an individual employer.
Under the current system, workers can become heavily dependent on the organisation sponsoring their visa. UNISON warns that this can leave people reluctant to report poverty pay, excessive working hours, unsafe conditions or other forms of exploitation because they fear losing both their job and their right to remain in Britain.
A sector-wide visa would allow workers to move more easily between approved employers while remaining within social care.
Supporters believe this would reduce the power of unscrupulous employers, improve standards and enable workers to fill vacancies elsewhere in a sector experiencing serious staffing shortages.
UNISON has written to the Home Secretary urging the government to reconsider the settlement proposals and listen directly to care workers affected by the planned changes.
The union says the number of international recruits entering care jobs fell from 105,000 in 2023–24 to 30,000 in 2025–26. Over the same period, it says the number of social care posts filled by British workers also fell by 70,000.
UNISON argues that these figures demonstrate that restricting international recruitment will not, by itself, solve the workforce crisis or automatically lead to more British workers taking care jobs.
Instead, the union is calling for a comprehensive plan combining fair visas with improved pay, employment rights, training and career development across social care.
Its Fair Visa Campaign has been led by migrant worker members who have shared their experiences with MPs, trade unionists and campaigners.
Hundreds of care workers have taken part in demonstrations and parliamentary events, calling for a five-year route to settlement, freedom to move between responsible employers and a fair pay agreement for the sector.
Princess Akinwale has become one of the prominent voices in the campaign, highlighting the contribution migrant workers make while caring for elderly, disabled and vulnerable people.
Egan’s intervention comes as Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government reviews the proposed settlement changes and considers the responses received during the consultation process.
The government has said it wants an immigration system that is controlled, fair and based on contribution. UNISON’s campaign presents ministers with an opportunity to ensure those principles recognise the extraordinary contribution made by migrant care workers.
A Labour government should be able to reduce exploitation, uphold employment standards and maintain control of the immigration system while treating people who serve Britain’s communities with dignity and fairness.
By engaging constructively with UNISON, care providers and workers such as Akinwale, ministers can develop a visa system that protects staff, supports responsible employers and helps secure the future of social care.
Egan and UNISON will continue pressing for those changes as the government considers its final position.
