Changes to government policy have left NHS migrant workers anxious and uncertain about their futures.
UNISON is very concerned about the impact policy changes on international recruitment, visa rules and earnings thresholds are having on migrant workers.
Many key transitional protections offered to NHS workers do not apply to those not already on the skilled worker route. Those working in the NHS as nursing assistants, nursing auxiliaries and health care assistants are allowed to continue working for the NHS under the new band 6131.
However, if they are not already on a skilled worker visa, they will lose the right to have their family with them. UNISON has been contacted by hundreds of NHS workers on graduate visas who have been presented with the distressing choice of leaving the UK, leaving the healthcare sector or losing the right to keep their families with them.
The Government’s proposed changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) – doubling the qualifying period from five to ten years, potentially retrospectively – will have devastating consequences for migrant workers and the public services they help sustain.
UNISON has called on the Government to:
- Retain the five year route for ILR;
- Halt retrospective application – Extended qualifying periods must not apply retrospectively to workers who came under existing rules;
- Any expedited route to settlement which requires workers to prove their contribution should recognise the exceptional contribution made by those working in public services, particularly our health service.
We’re also concerned that the combination of hostile policy developments and a global shortage of health workers mean the NHS loses out on highly skilled and experienced staff to other countries which are more welcoming and offer better conditions.
NHS Employers provide information to understand the impact of changes to immigration policy for NHS migrant workers. This includes those on Health and Care or Skilled Worker visas, and those working within occupations on the Immigration Salary List (ISL) and the Interim Temporary Shortage List (TSL).
You can find out more information here: Impacts of the changes to the UK immigration policy | NHS Employers.
UNISON believes that all migrant workers, including those working in the NHS deserve to be treated with dignity and respect, and should not face the threat of deportation because of a broken visa system.