Voice From The Front Line: A Care Worker’s Perspective from Parliament
- Prince Aklasu Agbagba
- Mar 23
- 3 min read
Editor’s note: Prince is a care worker and emerging advocate within the Tresacare community. After first connecting with us at the BCA Job Fair, he has since stepped forward to represent the voices of care workers – including at this recent visit to Parliament!
On 18 March 2026, I had the opportunity to go to Parliament with Tresacare and Citizens UK, following an invitation from Neil Coyle MP. It was an important moment for many of us to bring forward the voices of care workers and migrant families directly to those in power.
The message we came with was simple:
Don't move the goalposts on people who have followed the rules.
The Issue At Stake
Like my family and myself, thousands of care workers and their families came to the United Kingdom under clearly defined immigration pathways. We have worked hard, paid taxes, supported communities, and contributed to critical sectors such as health and social care.
Now, proposed changes to the Earned Settlement route risk being applied retrospectively – rewriting the rules midway through people’s journeys.
Outside Parliament, many of us stood together wearing football shirts – a simple but powerful symbol. In football, you don’t change the rules halfway through the game. The same principle should apply here.
My Story
As a care worker, husband, and father of four, this issue is very real for me. Both my wife and I work in health and social care, supporting vulnerable people, including those living with dementia.
Like many others, my family built their future around a clear pathway to settlement – one that required years of dedication, hard work, and significant financial sacrifice. Having already spent over £13,000 on visa-related costs, my family now faces uncertainty that threatens not only our stability, but my children’s sense of home and belonging.
Now, like many families, we are facing uncertainty – not just about our future, but about what this means for our children and their sense of home.
I know our story is not unique. There are thousands of families in similar situations.
What This Means for Care & Communities
The consequences extend far beyond individual families. The care sector is already under immense strain, with providers struggling to recruit and retain skilled staff. Forcing experienced care workers to leave due to shifting immigration rules will:
Disrupt continuity of care for vulnerable individuals
Deepen workforce shortages
Undermine the quality and stability of essential services
A fair settlement system is not just an immigration issue. It is a care issue, a community issue, and a national interest.
Together, we are asking the Government to:
Avoid making retrospective changes that affect those already in the UK
Ensure proper parliamentary scrutiny before any reforms are introduced
Protect sectors like the NHS and social care from further workforce disruption
Consider the impact on families, especially children who have built their lives here
Change may be needed, but it should be fair and forward-looking – not something that puts people at risk after they’ve already committed.
Parliamentary Response
During the visit, Neil Coyle MP acknowledged the concerns raised. He shared that there are ongoing discussions in Parliament, including concerns within the Labour Party about retrospective changes, as well as issues like sponsor licence revocations affecting care workers.
While we are still waiting to hear more detail, it was important that these concerns were heard.
Our Message Remains Clear
Care workers, families, and communities across the UK are united in this call:
Do not change the rules for those who have already committed their lives to this country.
Give us certainty. Give us fairness. Give us the chance to finish what we started.
Comments