UK migrant workers wear chains, sing Asa’s ‘Jailer’ to protest proposed visa reforms

Migrant workers in the United Kingdom wore chains and sang Nigerian singer Asa’s ‘Jailer’ during a protest against proposed changes to immigration rules that could make workers wait up to 15 years before qualifying for permanent settlement.

The demonstration was held on Monday, 28 September, outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, as migrant workers and their supporters opposed proposed changes to the UK’s settlement system.

Videos posted by UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union, showed protesters wearing chains and singing ‘Jailer’, which was released in 2007 by Nigerian singer Bukola Elemide, popularly known as Asa, as part of her self-titled debut album.

In a post on its Instagram page, UNISON said the migrant workers sang ‘Jailer’ because of its themes of “oppression, power and refusing to accept being treated as a prisoner.”

UNISON said more than 400 people participated in the protest, with many “symbolically wearing balls and chains”.

The union explained that the visa rules can tie workers to a particular employer, meaning that “leaving an exploitative workplace or speaking out” could affect their right to remain in the UK and their families’ futures.

Reason for protest

The demonstration was organised as part of UNISON’s Fair Visa Campaign, which is calling on the UK government to abandon proposed changes to settlement rules.

“Under plans from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, care staff, NHS employees and lower-paid public service workers will have to wait 15 years to qualify to settle in the UK, instead of the current five,” UNISON noted on its website.

UNISON wants the five-year qualifying period retained for skilled workers. It is also calling for a “sector-wide visa sponsorship system” for social care workers, which it says would reduce workers’ vulnerability to exploitation.

Speaking at the protest, UNISON General Secretary, Andrea Egan said migrant workers should not be blamed for failures to invest in public services.

“The NHS, social care and other essential services rely on the hard work of migrant staff,” Ms Egan said, according to the union.

She accused the government of replacing the previous five-year settlement expectation with “the threat of 15 years of insecurity and exploitation” and called for the proposals to be dropped.

Nigerians among major care-worker groups

The proposed changes are significant for Nigerians because the country has been one of the leading sources of workers recruited through the UK’s Health and Care Worker visa route.

UK Home Office statistics show that 18,143 Nigerian nationals were granted visas to work as care workers and home carers in 2023.

Nigerian nationals, alongside migrants from India and Zimbabwe, accounted for 58 per cent of visas granted for care worker and home carer jobs that year, according to the Home Office.

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Government considers changes

The protest came amid opposition to the proposed settlement changes from some Labour figures and trade unions.

According to The Guardian, Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood signalled on 28 September that she was considering watering down plans that would make it harder for some foreign workers to obtain permanent residence in the UK.

Speaking at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, Ms Mahmood acknowledged that some people had described elements of the reforms as unfair.

She said the government would “come to a position that balances fairness for those who came here legally, and fairness to British citizens.”

The Guardian reported that her comments followed pressure from Labour cabinet colleagues, including Angela Rayner, as well as UNISON General Secretary Andrea Egan, who had urged the government to drop the proposed changes to indefinite leave to remain.

The newspaper also reported that no final decision had been made on the proposals.