Emergency Motion 1
Supporting Migrant Workers
‘‘That this Congress condemns the Home Office sponsorship system for foreign workers coming to the UK to fill key worker posts in the care sector for these reasons:
- There is no effective system for preventing extortionate fees charged by agents abroad who “find” UK jobs for workers.
- The Home Office does nothing to prevent employers withdrawing sponsorship from workers who attempt to assert basic employment rights.
- All costs of sponsorship, visa and biometric cards and travel costs are usually borne by the workers.
- From March 11th, the UK Tory Government banned these workers from bringing their dependants to join them in the UK.
- If a worker has their sponsorship revoked, they have 60 days to find a new sponsor. If unsuccessful, they are likely to be deported by the Home Office.
- Many workers have contracts showing wage rates that are lower than the Scottish Real Living Wage paid to care workers.
- Many workers are being given much less or much more work than stated in their offers of employment.
- Sponsored workers’ visas bar them from access to public funds so there is very limited access to benefits if they have problems
‘‘Congress therefore resolves to campaign to achieve parity of employment rights for foreign and Scottish workers.
‘‘Congress calls on General Council to:
- Demand that Scottish Councils and NHS/Council Joint Boards commit to offering sponsorships to care workers who have had their sponsorship cancelled by employers due to disputes over pay or working conditions.
- Encourage foreign workers to join trade unions by demanding parity of wages and conditions with Scottish workers.
- Support affiliates who are negotiating with care employers to bring in occupational sick pay schemes for all care workers.
- Challenge the ban on bringing dependants as a breach of basic human rights during the general election campaign.
Mover: Dumfries & Galloway Trades Union Council
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