Trade unions are urging the government to soften proposed changes to immigration rules that would make it more difficult for foreign workers to secure permanent residency in the UK.
Under the proposals, most migrants would need to wait 10 years to qualify for permanent residence, an increase from the current five years. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who announced the plans last year, has defended them, citing an "unprecedented" number of arrivals.
Delegates at the Trades Union Congress (TUC) unanimously passed a motion calling for the withdrawal of any changes affecting workers already in the UK. Unison, the UK's largest union, expressed alarm at the proposals, stating they would drive away international staff despite shortages in critical roles, particularly in the care sector where the qualification period would treble to 15 years.
A government spokesperson confirmed that ministers are carefully considering 200,000 responses received during a consultation on the proposals.