Councils are being urged to sign a new charter to tackle the exploitation of migrant workers across Yorkshire and Humberside, says UNISON today (Monday).
The migrant worker charter launched by the union aims to prevent social care staff from becoming victims of modern slavery when they travel from overseas to work in the region.
It highlights ways in which local authorities can help protect migrant care workers. These include ensuring all contracted care providers publish an annual ‘modern slavery statement’, a document detailing the steps taken to prevent slavery and human trafficking taking place in their organisation.
Another key recommendation is that the authority becomes licensed by the Home Office to sponsor migrant care staff. This will allow councils to offer employment to workers who have been victimised or whose jobs have been terminated through no fault of their own, adds the union.
UNISON says this would offer a lifeline to migrant workers who often struggle to find a new sponsor when they leave or lose a job, including when a care company goes into liquidation. Staff are legally required to be sponsored by a company licensed by the Home Office and must return overseas if they do not find a new sponsor within 60 days.
The charter also commits local authorities to ensuring migrant care staff receive fair workers’ rights, and are told which unions operate within their workplace.
The announcement of the charter comes just weeks after UNISON highlighted the extent of migrant care worker exploitation in the region. The union found more than 30 companies across Yorkshire and Humberside had licences revoked in the past year, affecting thousands of migrant staff.
UNISON now intends to ask every local authority across Yorkshire and Humberside to sign the charter.
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside migrant worker lead Jordan Stapleton said: “For too long, migrant workers have been treated appallingly after coming to the UK to care for some of society’s most vulnerable people.
“This charter is a significant step towards stopping the awful conditions they experience.
“UNISON will be working with councils across Yorkshire and Humberside to crack down on this exploitative behaviour, and ensure these workers are treated with the respect they deserve.”
UNISON Yorkshire and Humberside local government service group chair Leon Kirkham said: “This charter gives councils the opportunity to make a stand against the conditions many migrant workers experience.
“Hopefully all councils in the region are prepared to make that commitment.”
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