Demand Care for Carers Campaign

Carers have been the heroes of this pandemic, providing vital care and support to some of the most vulnerable in our society, and putting their lives at risk to do their jobs. Carers are predominantly female, and BAME women are overrepresented in the caring workforce.

WE believe that these crucial workers are chronically undervalued and underpaid. The Immigration Bill requires migrant workers to earn a salary that it is almost impossible for care workers to meet, and categorises care as unskilled work. We are calling for MPs to vote down the bill unless it properly recognises the value of care work, and allows migrant carer workers to work in the UK.

The Women’s Equality Party is asking MPs to guarantee that they will only support an immigration bill in the event that:

• The migrant salary cap does not exclude care workers
• Care is recognised as skilled work
• Care workers will still be able to migrate to the UK

Three ways you can support our campaign:

• Lambeth’s three MPs – Florence Eshalomi, Helen Hayes and Bell Riberio-Addy – are expected to vote against the immigration bill. If you agree with them, you can write to them or tweet at them to thank them for their support

• If you live in an area with a Conservative MP, for example in parts of our neighbouring boroughs of Croydon, Westminster, Wandsworth or Merton, write to them asking them not to turn their back on carers. Find your local MP here. WE have drafted a letter you can use - download it here.

• You can also put up an A3 or A4 poster in your window to show your support for carers.