Received from: SoR
Congress asserts that health and social care have a chronic staffing crisis.
Congress further notes that the UK is now ever more reliant on the successful recruitment and retention of overseas professionals. However, the poor treatment and hostile environment many encounter when moving to the UK is shameful and counterproductive. The hostile environment in health and social care must end.
Many are being exploited. Unions regularly find examples of employers, including the NHS, threatening to recover visa fees and travel costs, or holding recruits to bogus training fees. Some private sector companies insert exceptionally long notice periods and/or extended probation periods into overseas recruits’ contracts. Clauses to recover professional indemnity risks are also known. This is on top of the long hours and poor conditions expected of all professionals in our system.
When we need to be offering globally competitive recruitment and retention packages, our welcome to those we desperately need reflects an entrenched racism and hostile culture.
Congress calls on the General Council to:
i. develop and publish a charter for overseas recruits into health and social care
ii. name and challenge employers in the public and private sector who fail to meet these standards.
iii. challenge the Home Office to remove the right to sponsor visas from any employer who is found to abuse overseas workers with modern slavery clauses or practises.
iv. develop materials and training to mainstream challenging equality and racism into all rep work.
v. support unions developing equality reps to champion anti-racism in workplaces.
Society of Radiographers