Stunell challenges Minister over senior care workers facing deportation

3.31.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 11th Dec 2007

Andrew Stunell MP has come to the defence of a Hazel Grove mother and her family who face deportation after a Home Office ruling that she isn't being paid enough to stay in Britain.

The bizarre ruling has angered the local MP, who will today challenge Home Office Minister, Liam Byrne to use some commonsense and recognise the good work being done by her and hundreds of other overseas care workers.

The Senior Care Worker works at a home run by national care home group, Southern Cross. But her application for a renewal of her work permit was turned down last month by the Home Office because her pay rate was said to be too low for the job. Now the Hazel Grove resident, and her two children in local schools, face a return to the Philippines.

Commenting on the situation, Mr Stunell said:

"The Home Office is threatening to deport several hundred care workers who were invited to work here because of the shortage of skilled staff. That deficit is still there and this decision is just absurd!

"Those being forced out are fully qualified, and highly valued by care home residents and their families. As there are not nearly enough British workers to do the job, the likelihood is that their places will be taken by non-English speaking staff from eastern Europe. It is obviously time for a government rethink."

ENDS

Notes to editors:

1. Andrew Stunell has supported the following parliamentary motion (EDM no. 113)

"That this House notes that many senior care workers based in the UK who came from outside the EEA are caught between new departmental criteria on pay scales and employers who will not meet them; notes that many of the individuals affected have been resident in the United Kingdom for as long as six years; and calls on the Government to grant an amnesty of three months from the date of expiry on in-country extension applications for senior care workers where employers will not or cannot meet the pay criteria, to enable them to find alternative work within the same sector."