Homecare services for people in Kirklees must be brought back in-house and delivered by the council, says UNISON today (Tuesday).
The union is calling on Kirklees Council to deliver the services itself, rather than outsourcing to private care providers, as part of efforts to crack down on the exploitation of migrant care workers.
Currently, anyone requiring homecare services is advised to contact a care agency, or the council can make arrangements for certain eligible residents, who will be asked to contribute to the cost.
However, concerns over the treatment of migrant care workers by some employers in the region have led to UNISON calling for Kirklees Council to bring the services back in-house to help tackle exploitation.
The union recently revealed 33 companies in the region had their licences to sponsor migrant staff revoked, affecting more than 5,000 workers.
UNISON is aware of several companies commissioned by local authorities to provide care that are exploiting migrant workers.
The union’s Kirklees branch will officially launch its campaign to bring homecare service back in-house at an event later this week.
UNISON will call on Kirklees Council to follow steps taken by other local authorities to tackle the bad employers taking advantage of migrant workers.
UNISON Kirklees branch secretary Mick Donoghue said: “The treatment of migrant workers by some care firms is absolutely shocking.
“It’s vital Kirklees Council takes a stand and makes it clear such behaviour won’t be tolerated.
“Bringing homecare services back in-house to be delivered by the council is a step towards that. But the council must go further.
“Senior figures at the council should commit to doing more to protect migrant workers by signing UNISON’s migrant worker charter.
“Doing so will be a significant step towards ending the exploitation.”
