‘Fundamentally unfair’: Burnham must overhaul migration reforms, says TUC general secretary
Paul Nowak, general secretary of the TUC, has called on Prime Minister Andy Burnham to overhaul Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's proposed migration reforms, warning they are "fundamentally unfair" and risk both overstretching social care and fuelling far-right sentiment. He argues the changes break promises made to workers who came to Britain expecting a quicker route to settlement, and that extending the qualifying period for new arrivals would undermine integration by leaving people unable to plan their lives for over a decade.
The Home Office is consulting on plans that would force more than 300,000 low-paid workers, including many care workers recruited after the Covid pandemic, to wait 15 years for indefinite leave to remain, rather than the five years originally promised. Nowak noted 111,000 vacancies currently exist in social care and said Britain will likely still need overseas workers despite efforts to train domestic staff. He also warned that lengthening settlement periods for new arrivals could hand ammunition to Reform UK, and linked Nigel Farage's rhetoric to recent vigilante action against migrants in Dover and Portsmouth, urging Labour instead to focus on cost-of-living measures such as help with energy bills.
In short
- TUC chief urges Burnham to rethink Mahmood's migration reforms
- Plans would make 300,000+ low-paid workers wait 15 years for settlement
- Nowak warns tougher rules could fuel Reform UK's far-right appeal
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Extending the settlement period could be seen as breaking expectations for workers recruited on a five-year route, making it harder for them to plan their lives and feel part of their communities. With persistent social-care vacancies and continued reliance on overseas staff, a longer wait may also make the UK less attractive to workers the sector needs.
The case against
Supporters of the proposed longer route could argue that settlement rules should be reviewed as part of managing migration and ensuring the system remains sustainable and trusted. A longer qualifying period may give government more time to assess whether applicants meet the requirements for permanent residence, while allowing it to pursue domestic recruitment and training in sectors such as social care.
Explained simply
Indefinite leave to remain lets someone settle in the UK permanently, without needing to keep renewing a visa. Many people who move to Britain for work can apply after meeting rules on how long they have lived and worked here; the time required depends on their circumstances and the route they came through.
Care homes and other social care services rely on workers recruited from abroad as well as staff trained in the UK. The number of available workers affects how easily people can get care, while immigration rules shape how secure overseas staff feel about building a life here.
The Home Office is the government department responsible for immigration policy, and the Trades Union Congress (TUC) represents trade unions and their members. Debate over settlement rules involves the government’s control of migration, workers’ expectations and rights, and the staffing needs of public services such as social care.