has today called on the Prime
Minister to scrap the NHS surcharge for overseas health
professionals and care workers.
The Health Immigration Surcharge is £400 per year and set
to rise to £624 in October.
A care worker being paid the National Living Wage would
need to work around 70 hours to pay off that fee.
Labour has announced today that it will seek to table an
amendment to the Immigration Bill to exempt NHS staff and care
professionals from this charge.
Speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions, Labour Leader
said:
“Every Thursday we go out and clap for our carers. Many of
them are risking their lives for the sake of all of
us.
“Does the Prime Minister think it’s right that care workers
coming from abroad and working on our frontline should have to
pay a surcharge of hundreds – sometimes thousands of pounds – to
use the NHS themselves?”
, Labour’s Shadow Home Secretary,
said:
“This amendment is about making a bad Bill better. Overseas
professionals have been at the frontline of this crisis and cared
for our loved ones, as if they were their own. It is an insult
and injustice to have this charge in place for them. That is why
I would urge Tory MPs to back this amendment.”
Ends
Notes to Editors
· Labour
has announced today it will seek to table amendment to the
Immigration Bill to scrap the Health Immigration Surcharge for
NHS and care workers. Labour will seek to table the amendment
either in the Commons or the Lords.
· The
Health Immigration Surcharge is £400 per year and set to rise to
£624 in October. Source: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/871799/Budget_2020_Web_Accessible_Complete.pdf
· The
current UK Living Wage for over 25 years old is £8.72 an hour.
£624 / £8.72 is 71.5 hours. Source: https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates
