MikeLigalig.com

abs-cbnnews.com

Filipino caregivers in the United Kingdom threatened to stage a rally following a British Home Office directive that states work permits will not be renewed if their contracts are less than five years.

ABS-CBN Europe News Bureau reported that the Home Office's refusal to renew Filipinos' work permits will affect more than 1,000 caregivers, including their dependents.

Bureau chief Danny Buenafe said in his report that a number of British lawmakers, as well as Unison, the biggest trade union in the UK, have expressed their support for the protest action, which has been scheduled on November 3.

Unison said the Home Office's directive, which would mean deportation of the Filipino caregivers, appears to prioritize European citizens.

The directive states that work permits will not be renewed for workers whose contracts are under five years.

Under the directive, the Home Office will not renew a Filipino caregiver's work permit unless employers are willing to give an hourly wage rate of £7.02 (633 Philippine pesos).

Majority of the affected Filipino health workers are employed by Southern Cross Health Care, the biggest care home company in the UK.

The report said Southern Cross, where thousands of Filipino caregivers are employed, is the only care home company that could not afford the hourly wage rate.

Filipino caregivers interviewed by ABS-CBN said they felt the Philippine embassy in London is not doing enough. The embassy, however, said it is doing all it can to find a solution to the Filipino caregivers' problem.

Linkback: https://tubagbohol.mikeligalig.com/index.php?topic=6010.0