An association of Filipino migrant groups in United Kingdom called Kanlungan are set to file a complain at the British High Court regarding the migration policies of UK on foreign workers. Kanlungan demands that all migrant workers that have been staying in UK for five straight years be allowed to apply for a permanent status even if there are gaps in their employment and stay period. The Filipino group wants the British High Court to release a final decision on the issue because the gaps in the visa requirement of workers are mainly due to the changing migration laws in UK.
Through an official statement from UK, the chairman of Kanlungan, Benny Clutario informed that the permanent status applications of thousands of foreign senior care workers is being rejected by the UK Border Agency due to gaps in their visas.
According to Clutario, the actions being done by the office responsible for UK migration issues is not fair because the gaps were not caused by any rules that were violated by the foreign worker. Rather it is a direct result of the changes that the UK implemented in their immigration policies from year 2006-2008.
To resolve this issue, the Kanlungan is seeking a judicial review. The legal system of UK holds this kind of court trial wherein a judge reviews a decision made by a public body.
Clutario said, "When migrants lose their visas, this does not automatically result in all these workers leaving the country. It almost certainly translates into a significant number of workers staying in the UK as undocumented migrants. Sadly, they become undocumented not by choice but because of misguided policies and mismanaged immigration."
The Kanlungan chairman also appeals to senior care workers with gaps in their visas because of the changes in UK rules to support their petition by coming forward and serve as a testimony.
He emphasized, "The more senior carers involved in this legal action, the better the chance for success."
Organizations in UK that belongs to the Kanlungan group are the following: Bahay Kubo Housing Association, Lingap, Philippine Theatre UK, Kadamay UK, and Migrante UK.
Would you like to use this article in your e-zine, blog or website? You may do so as long as you acknowledge OFWGuide.com as the source. Please inform us beforehand of your intention to republish the articles and provide the url address where the article will appear by dropping us a line at editor@ofwguide.com
