TUC welcomes rethink on settlement rules for social care workers after relentless union campaigning

• Union body calls for more to be done to ensure workers across the economy have a fair route to settlement 

Commenting on the changes to settlement rules announced by the Home Secretary, TUC General Secretary Paul Nowak said:  

"This is a welcome rethink from the Home Secretary and shows the government has listened to care workers and their unions on key concerns. 

"Migrant care workers do valuable and essential work in our care sector. They work around the clock to provide care for our loved ones and keep the sector running - after recruitment and retention crises caused by years of underfunding. 

"That's why it is important that the government has changed course. But this policy must now be put into place fairly. 

"We need a sector wide visa so workers can change employers, rather than having to put up with abuse, poor conditions and exploitation." 

On the impact on the wider workforce, Paul added: 

"We need a fair and managed migration system.

"The Home Secretary is right to recognise the contribution that migrant workers make in the UK. But more still needs to be done to make sure that people coming here to work are not exploited or used to undercut local workers.

"And at the moment, the government’s proposals would leave many workers in sectors as diverse as prisons, transport and research unsure about their future. Workers in those sectors making a contribution to our economy and communities should also have a fair route to settlement.

"Addressing workforce shortages also needs sustained investment from government and employers in young people."