UK tells foreign health workers to leave children behind
President of the Jamaica Association for the Resettlement of Returning Residents, Percival LaTouche, is strongly against the United Kingdom (UK) banning migrating healthcare workers from bringing their families with them.
On Monday, the UK’s Home Office announced that persons entering the country on health and care worker visas will not be allowed to bring their dependents with them as a part of their visa application. This means that no new visa application after March 11, and onward, will be able to include a person’s spouse or child.
LaTouche told THE STAR that the act of separating children from their parents is barbaric and akin to slavery, when slave masters would not allow the enslaved Africans to have families while exploiting their free labour.
“Things like this is from slavery days and you cannot spite the child just because you will earn $10 more. Everything must be done to allow the children to be with their parents even if it is after some time. You cannot expect parents to work and leave their children, No, no!” LaTouche said.
He opined that the new policy is uncalled for and that there is no valid reason to not allow immigrant employees to take their dependents.
“I don’t see where it makes any sense for them to even have thought about it,” LaTouche said.
“I’m lost, because why do you want to have their labour and while they’re doing the work, their child is out here doing worse because they can’t go with the parent? There is nothing that justifies it,” LaTouche said.
He told THE STAR that polices like these will create broken homes, because with limited high paying jobs, some have no other option but to seek employment overseas. He also said that developed countries like the UK should put in place better polices for migrant workers, because often, it is the most qualified workers who leave the country to build the UK’s economy.
“Why should they do your dirty work and then leave their children behind and you pay them just enough to send a couple dollars back here?” LaTouche questioned. “They should have some sort of privilege. They are coming there to work, they should be allowed
to get their spouse or children to come with them.”
He added that when dependents are allowed to join workers, it is beneficial to the UK’s society because working overseas can be strenuous, and having one’s family with them can aid in their comfort and productivity.