TUC Congress backs motion condemning Government’s earned settlement proposals and calling for their full withdrawal

At its annual congress in Brighton, the Trades Union Congress (TUC) yesterday backed a motion calling on the Government to withdraw proposed changes to settlement rules for migrant workers, warning that the proposals show how British politics has been "captured by an atmosphere toxic to all immigration".

The motion, Migrant rights are workers' rights – withdraw the unsettling UK settlement proposals, was moved by UNISON and seconded by the Society of Radiographers (SoR).

It strongly criticised the Government's planned "earned settlement" system, under which migrants would face different routes to permanent residence depending on factors including their earnings and tax contributions.

The motion accused the Government of targeting migrant workers in health and social care, punishing them for doing low-paid but essential work.

"A city trader could secure safe haven many years faster than an NHS radiographer," the motion noted. It further noted that care workers who came to the UK on a visa that promised them a five-year route to settlement would face a 15 year wait under the earned settlement system.

Debbie Rowden, UNISON's senior vice president, stated in a speech to the TUC congress: "What does this say about how public service workers are valued? What does this say about the soul of the country, when health and social care is seen as being a low contributor, but bankers as the highest?"

UNISON and the SoR said their members were "scared and confused" by the proposals, warning they were "fuelling a hostile environment in care settings by empowering racists".

"These proposals show our politics have been captured by an atmosphere toxic to all immigration. To reset this, government must drop these proposals," the motion stated.

Unanimously backing the motion, the congress called on the TUC and its affiliated unions to campaign for a sector-wide visa scheme for social care workers, allowing them to challenge poor employers without the threat of deportation.

It also called for no retrospective application of changes to indefinite leave to remain (ILR) rules, the retention of the existing five-year route to settlement for workers, stronger access to trade union facility time for migrant workers, and for a fair, rights-based visa system for migrant workers.

The congress further called for active support for unions and politically independent campaigns to highlight the positive contribution migrant workers make to public services and the impact of the hostile environment on workers and their families.

It called for the TUC to condemn the earned settlement proposals and demand their full withdrawal.

Last month, the SoR said anti-immigrant rhetoric was fuelling incidents of racist abuse of NHS staff. It noted that such incidents had increased significantly over the last 18 months, partly reflecting increasingly hostile public attitudes to immigration. One SoR member commented: "What used to be something people wouldn't say – now the rhetoric has changed. Immigrants are blamed for the cost of living, energy bills, the worsening situation in the country, and people feel it's okay to say it."