KANLUNGAN

Alliance of Filipino Organisations

seNiOr cAre wOrKers

Briefing 2: Skilled migrant care workers and families

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. The UK will need skilled migrant care workers for the foreseeable future skilled migrant care workers are hardworking families Settlement is one of the main reasons skilled care workers come to Britain Its unfair to change immigration rules for people already settled whove planned their lives Salary levels should not determine who settles

BrIefIng 2: SKIlled mIgranT care worKerS and famIlIeS

skilled migrant care workers have families

UK immigration rules allow only skilled workers to be recruited from outside the eU for permanent work1. Senior care workers (who were allowed to come to the UK until 2011) had to show that they had professional qualifications or experience or both. many of those working in the UK are qualified nurses, physiotherapists, etc with years of experience. a recent oecd report found that long term care (lTc) workers in all countries covered are predominantly women (90% of all lTc workers), and many are relatively old.2 consequently many have family responsibilities: children they are supporting in their home countries or who accompany them to the UK, ageing parents, siblings and other relatives. of our 11 interviewees, seven had children, and four of them were supporting them in the Philippines. five of our interviewees had partners living with them in the UK. I plan to create a secure future for my daughter. although I was single, I was helping supporting them back home. I had loans to pay and I am also helping my siblings to go to school back home. I was under pressure to sort my status in the UK as well as to know how I can support my parents and siblings back home as well. (8)

migrant care workers depend on their employers for their leave to remain in the UK and this can lead to exploitation. I had good relationship with my co-workers. I am a very hard working person, sometimes I feel that we are discriminated in the care home because we are hard workers, some of our colleagues are just passing the jobs to us. But I cannot say no because I know that this may affect our work permit if I complain. (9) most bring considerable work experience and commitment to the work they do. I do not have problems with patients because when you show them kindness, care, attention, they will like the [sic] all of you. even in their going to sleep, they will look for your name and that is also tiring because they looked for you all the time. please toilet me so, even though they dont see you, they will always ask for you. But it is something that is satisfying because you have given your best and that you are being appreciated by it..The only thing is sometimes you have to fight for clients rights, clients choice, privacy, dignity versus routines that you are doing. (2)

I was a single provider so I was thinking I would be better of if I come here I can be better support my children to go to university, now Im considering to borrow money so that I can see my son. I was thinking it would be easy that I can just telephone everyday and I can bond with them no matter how we are away from each other, but I did not realise that telephone is expensive and my bills, some of my salary goes to my telephone bills. I called everyday and ask them .. are you eating, hows your studies, are you eating, hows your project, how are you???? are you doing it and I thought I feel that I was beside him. . all of those questions I will ask, over the telephone and just find out that my bills was [sic] already high (2)

Arbitrary changes affect families and children

In 2007, the rules on Senior care workers were changed, affecting thousands who had worked some years in the UK, many here with their families. They were told that their current jobs no longer qualified for visas, and they would have to either find another employer who paid more or leave the country. many faced months of uncertainty and huge disruption. one couple with two children had to move into a single room and rely on the charity of friends. I was upset and in low mood. I told my family that we have to go back to the Philippines, I sent some of my stuff back home and I moved into my friends small room because I cannot afford to pay the rent and utility bills and I didnt pay anything for the accommodation. (5) one man could not travel as airlines would not accept his pregnant wife. He spent a year sorting out his employment. I have to work in a very low paid restaurant at 3 an hour . It was a hard work. .. we have to move from places to places [sic] I feel bad for my wife because she was pregnant at that time and she had to suffer like this. we live in my car together with my friends who lost their jobs as well due to the changes. we sleep in my car, which is very small car. we have all our things in the car even our food. Yes, we are in the UK but I couldnt imagine our life would be like this. when we found an accommodation, we have to cram up in a very small room. There is a double-decked bed where my wife and I sleep on the lower deck and my friends on the other. But that house was full of people, there are around 14 or 16 people living in that house. I think it is 3-4 bedrooms. The living room is also occupied. (9)

caring is hard work

Interviewees told us about how difficult and demanding their jobs were. Hard and very challenging. It is also a high-pressured job. what I do is to give one to one feeding, personal hygiene; bring them outdoor and indoor activities. I work with people who have mental disabilities. what we do is to help them come back to their own lives independently, improve themselves, i.e. how to act like a normal person. we work 8 hours a day with only 30 minutes break. This is always the case. Sometimes we do overtime, but that is not paid just to catch up with the work undone. (1)

You have to be strong. feeding bathing and personal care is not an easy task. It involves pressure, alertness, human affection, physical & mental strength. (11)

families were split up. when I started my new job I had to move and left my family back there [Philippines] for 2 months, because I did not have money for accommodation. I had to tighten my belt and spent [sic] all he money I had saved. (5) families back home suffered as well. The overall effect of this experience is really long term, I am not sure when will we recover even financially. Until now, I am paying my loan which I paid to the lawyer to work my visa. I did not sent money to [sic] my parents and was not able to visit Philippines since 2008 until now. (9)

Senior care workers chose to come to the UK because they believed they could do a worthwhile job and be treated fairly. They came believing that they would be able to settle in the UK with their families and carry on working. my only worry is how I would be able to give my daughter a sense of security. Having my [sic] Ilr status will be a big relief to me as I am not only fighting for myself but also my daughter who is also in the UK. as any parent would do, I want the best for my daughter and I want her to have a more secured life. It is difficult enough to worry for myself, more so worrying for two people! It is still unresolved. (8)

I hope to get Ilr so that it will make our life better. I am tired of being in fear. (9)

I cannot support myself so I stopped supporting my daughter and my mother back home. I am always borrowing money from friends and sleeping from different houses. I did not see my daughter for more than 3 years now and I have nothing to send to her because I lost everything. I lost the house.because I could no longer pay the (mortgage).I really lost everything and now I thought things will be better but it was much worse than I was before. my daughter used to study in private school because I want her to be educated properly, now she is in public school where poor education is given. (1)

what can we do?

Tell the Government that we want good, experienced and caring workers to look after our elderly and disabled Tell the Government that good carers are likely to have families who deserve to be treated fairly Tell the Government that professionals with families need to be able to settle in the UK if they are to come here to work campaign to allow skilled migrant care workers and their families to settle.

I had depression. .as a mother, our main aim is to send our kids to school and see them graduate. So I had depression .. my children had to stop going to school. of course, they [my children] were very sad. (6)
1

Some went back to the Philippines to sort out their visas. The thing is, you have had the permanent job in the Philippines before coming to UK. when I was applying to work here in UK I thought I was going to settle down here and your future is here. But then in the end they just force you to go home, how will you start again? where will you work? (6)

2 3

See http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/visas-immigration/working/ Help wanted? Providing and Paying for long-Term care oecd 2011 See Immigration directorate Instructions chapter 6a available at http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/IdIs/ idichapter6a/section2.pdf?view=Binary See http://www.ukba.homeoffice.gov.uk/sitecontent/documents/policyandlaw/ consultations/employment-related-settlement/

what is happening now?

In 2011, the UK Border agency told its staff not to renew visas for anyone who was not being paid at the minimum rate set for Senior care workers, even though visas had been issued for people paid at lower rates and they had worked legally for five years3. Then the government announced that it was consulting on changes to settled status (Indefinite leave to remain, Ilr)4. currently, skilled workers can apply for settled status after five years and can then choose to work for different employers. People with settled status can also apply to being family members to join them if they can accommodate and support them. The government proposes to stop lower paid skilled workers getting settled status. People who earn a lot, or arrive as investors with a million pounds in a British bank, will get settled status. But carers, social workers, teachers will not. It is also consulting on proposals to set a minimum salary level for people who want to bring family members to live with them in the country where they are working.

BrIefIng 2: SKIlled mIgranT care worKerS and famIlIeS

Acknowledgements
This report and the briefings accompanying it were written by Sue lukes.

Kanlungan and our research

Kanlungan is a registered charity consisting of five filipino community organisations working closely together for the welfare and interests of the filipino community in Britain. we advise and support filipinos and have been working with hundreds of care workers affected by many of the problems in the industry and immigration system. we work closely with the trade union movement, migrant organisations, lawyers and some employers. one of the groups worst affected by the recent changes in immigration policy has been Senior care workers. consequently, Kanlungan has been working closely with Senior care workers, supporting and advising them on their rights with respect to these changes. we now have some grant funding to support this work, and have used it to seek legal advice and to commission research. The research was based on detailed interviews with Senior care workers affected by the important changes in immigration practices since 2007, and we are using the outcome of the research for these briefings: this is the second briefing. extracts from the interviews are identified by numbers. KanlUngan c/o Bahay Kubo Housing association caxton House, 129 St. Johns way london n19 3rQ T: 020 7263 8992 e: kanlungan96_uk@yahoo.co.uk w: www.kanlungan.org.uk charity registration no. 1077224

special Thanks
Kanlungan management committee, Staff and Volunteers: Benny clutario, cielo Tilan, carolyn Panday, dr. fernando Santiago Jr. (+), elaine Tilan, evelyn Bolano, emma Bibal, estela nalden, Hapsa Pelicano, Jamima fagta, Jilyn ganaden, Jose caparino Jr., lyra del rosario, mark dearn, Pina manuel, rafael Joseph maramag, ricardo gacayan, Shanthi Sivakumaran, Simon luke aquino and Susan cueva. all Senior care workers and supporters who participated in this report: asuncion labaniego, gloria Umali, gundelina ramirez, Janis ramos, Jenny labaria, Joseph Tejada, Joseph carmelo Baxa, mr. Patiak, nerissa Siongco, Sady evangelista, Susana Tambadoc and Vicenta ornopia. organisations: migrants rights network Immigration law Practitioners association Joint council for the welfare of Immigrants UnISon Praxis Bahay Kubo Housing association migrante UK lingap filipino association Philippine Theatre UK

This report was supported and funded by

Trust for london

Barrow cadbury fund

Joseph rowntree charitable Trust

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