Government’s ‘earned settlement’ proposals set a dangerous precedent
We are alarmed by the spirit and intent of the government’s new ‘earned settlement’ proposals. The proposals will radically increase the route to settlement from five to 10 years for most people, 15 years for care workers, and 20 years for refugees. They also add criteria which include proving ‘contribution to the UK’, ‘good character and conduct’, and ‘integration’. This will have an appalling effect on all migrants and especially on survivors of human trafficking and labour exploitation.
Survivors need secure immigration status to give them the stability to recover and reduce their risk of re-exploitation. A lack of regularised status limits their access to employment, housing and health services. We fear that these proposals will fuel exploitation and prevent survivors from recovering from their exploitation and building a safe life.
Settlement should not be framed as a reward for passing costly, specific hurdles. It is the necessary foundation for integration. While stating that ‘earned settlement’ is a principle that recognises the value of long-term contribution to the UK, the reality is that the outlined criteria entirely devalue the crucial contributions of workers in traditionally low-paid sectors, such as social care.
Survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery face a disproportionate risk of being barred from settlement. This will create instability, undermine recovery and increase the risk of re-trafficking. Evidence shows that survivors of modern slavery often require long-term support to recover from their exploitation, and recovery is not a simple process: secure immigration status is essential.
The new earned settlement proposals will disproportionately affect survivors of modern slavery and trafficking because:
Threats around illegality, detention and removal are routinely used to control and manipulate victims, keeping them trapped in exploitation
Survivors overstay or enter without papers, often by no fault of their own, and this requirement may make it impossible for them to ever qualify for settlement
The ‘character’ requirement would disproportionately impact survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery, who are often forced to commit crimes
Delaying residence rights will keep people in limbo for years, damaging their ability to build a life in the UK and forcing them to pay huge fees to remain here legally.
Requiring individuals to prove they are ‘worthy’ of settling in the UK sets a dangerous precedent for how migrants should ‘behave’ to be accepted in the UK. Such policies will only deepen divisions and fuel racism.