To Pause new visa regulations, the mayor demands that the government. London’s mayor has urged the government to reevaluate its immigration policies, which the TSSA transport union claims could put up to 300 employees of Transport for London (TfL) at risk of termination.
Increased income requirements for visa sponsorship and the elimination of certain transport positions from the “skilled worker” list were among the changes to visa regulations that were announced in July.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, Sir Sadiq Khan told the London Assembly on October 9 that the changes had “left TfL staff in limbo.”
He stated that Seb Dance, the deputy mayor for transport, had written to the minister of migration to request that the measures be placed on hold and that TfL employees be protected right away.
The Home Office promised to reply to the letter as soon as possible.
They have previously stated that these measures, which are part of the government’s immigration white paper, will “end dependence on lower-skilled international recruitment” and “restore order” to immigration.
“Shifting the goals”
Sir Sadiq accused the government of “moving the goalposts” when Caroline Russell, the leader of the Green Party’s London Assembly, asked him about the matter during Mayor’s Question Time.
The requirements would “inhibit TfL’s ability to carry out its functions,” he continued, adding that TfL employees were “unclear about whether they can stay in the UK and continue the important work they do for us.”
Following the discussion, Ms Russell told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that she had received reports from TfL employees who found it difficult to go asleep at night because of the uncertainty.
“One worker, expecting her first child, should be filled with joy, but instead she’s terrified she’ll be forced to leave the country before her baby is even born,” she stated.
They’ve invested everything, worked hard to earn their credentials, and paid thousands of pounds to be here, and now they’re being told they don’t belong. The promise they were given has been completely betrayed.
The new regulations, which went into effect on July 22, increased the annual salary requirement for new applicants seeking visa sponsorship to £41,700.
Currently, TfL offers graduates a starting salary of £31,000, while trainee station employees are thought to make between £35,300 and £41,800.
“Needless ambiguity”
The RMT union’s general secretary, Eddie Dempsey, praised the mayor’s action, saying: “Transport workers who were employed with explicit visa arrangements are dealing with unnecessary ambiguity that could have been prevented.
“These people are doing essential front-line jobs and helping to keep London moving every day.”
63 RMT members who work for the London Underground might be fired, some as early as November, according to Mr. Dempsey’s statement from last month.
But according to TSSA union general secretary Maryam Eslamdoust, up to 300 TfL employees might be impacted.
The majority of these are currently employed as customer service assistants in Tube stations and entered the country on skilled worker or graduate visas.
A spokesman for TfL stated: “We are working with all colleagues affected by the changes to understand whether they have other routes to work in the UK available to them and to support them where possible.”