An association of Filipino migrant groups in United Kingdom (UK) 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 visas. 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 of 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 UKholds this kind of court trial wherein a judge reviews if a decision made by a
public body is fair or lawful.
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 theUKas 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 UKrules 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 UKthat belongs to the Kanlungan group are the following: Bahay Kubo Housing
Association, Lingap, Philippine Theatre UK,
Kadamay UK, and Migrante UK.
