Words by Smiley Team
Before Brexit, disabled people in the UK already faced a shortage of support workers to choose from. Leaving the EU and placing immigration restrictions on this workforce risks halving available care workers and exacerbating this shortage. Confronting the issue, disabled people’s movement Disabled People Against Cuts (DPAC) are calling on the public to help ensure EU carers have continued access to work in the UK.
In a letter signed by hundreds so far, DPAC calls on the government to list disabled people’s care work among the professions facing a shortage of workers in the UK.
While many migrant support staff choose not to live in the UK long-term, new immigration laws under Brexit do not account for this. If carers from the EU were not registered as working in the country prior to December 31st 2020, they cannot move to the UK for work.
The letter asks that the government extend the Frontier Worker scheme for those who choose not to live in the UK while working in the country, to include new self-employed staff from inside the EU and EEA areas as well as from outside of the EU.
DPAC co-founder Linda Burnip said: “Disabled people who employ personal assistants directly and many who use agency care workers have for over 30 years employed staff from the EU, EEA and other countries as well as those from the UK.”
She added: “As service users, we know from many years of personal experience that it is vital to have every path open to enable the recruitment and retention of staff with the key values, behaviours, personality, client synergy and skillset to deliver high quality, safe, and value-for-money services.”
There is already a shortage of 120,000 care workers across the country and nearly 60 per cent of the live-in workforce in London comes from EU countries, allowing disabled people to live independently. By adding your signature to their letter, you can help ensure disabled people maintain this vital supply of help that permits them to carry out essential daily tasks.
Burnip said: “Please sign up to DPAC’s letter to ask for an extension of the Frontier Worker scheme and for care workers to be classed as a shortage occupation. We believe that without adequate support disabled people will end up in hospital or neglected.”
To add your signature to the letter email DPAC at [email protected] with your full name.
Formed in September 2010, DPAC is a movement fighting for disabled people humans rights and against the impact of austerity. For more information visit their website.
