MIGRANT workers experience appalling levels of racism and bigotry, a damning new union study found today as PM Sir Keir Starmer was slammed for sticking to draconian plans to make Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) harder to obtain.

Unite is calling for the government to reverse track on its plans to reform the immigration system, including making permanent status even less accessible, which has meant greater exploitation for many migrant workers.

The union’s survey of members revealed that nearly half of workers (46 per cent) in key sectors such as healthcare, transport or the food industry have experienced racism, discrimination or unfair treatment in the workplace.

The report included first hand accounts of a noticeable increase in “open racism” several workers experienced from their managers.

“Over the past six months, racism and racist slurs have risen considerably. We are experiencing humiliation and living in fear,” one migrant worker said.

Another described a company where staff were effectively segregated on the basis of their race.

They said management “employed British people for management, white Europeans for customer-facing roles, and BAME staff for the lowest-paid work behind the scenes.”

Of the 1,260 respondents, 45 per cent said they were exploited specifically due to their migrant status, while 23 per cent say they were unfairly treated due to racism.

The report highlights the particular burden Sir Keir’s plans to harden ILR requirements, which now mean migrants need to work in the UK for 10 years, up from five.

Unite has campaigned against proposals to lengthen, restrict, or tie “earned” pathways to ILR and has especially condemned applying changes to the system retrospectively to those who entered Britain since 2021.

Longer and more difficult routes to permanent status heighten the risk of labour exploitation, the union warned.

It also undermines social integration and destabilises households and imposes “disproportionate burdens on vulnerable workers,” Unite said. 

Seema Syeda, of the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), told the Star: “This shocking report shows the human impact of decades of racism and Islamophobia — found ubiquitously in political and media discourse and structurally embedded in our institutions.

“The changes to Indefinite Leave to Remain are a culmination of this and the related decades of attacks on migrants’ rights.”

She added: “Whether it’s high visa fees, workplace discrimination or long and bureaucratic paths to settlement, it’s time for the labour movement to make a stand and confront racism in our workplaces, communities and government policy.”

Stand Up to Racism co-convener Sabby Dhalu said: “[This report] highlights the impact on the ground of the unprecedented growth of racism and the far right, with one respondent of its survey saying racism and racist slurs have risen considerably and migrants are experiencing humiliation and living in fear.

“We support Unite’s call on the government to reverse measures to make indefinite leave to remain harder to obtain and to crackdown on the discrimination of migrant workers.”

Unite director for equalities Alison Spencer-Scragg added: “This survey highlights the growing threat of racism and discrimination against migrant workers who provide vital services for the UK. 

“Vast sections of the UK economy rely on migrant workers and Unite is calling on the government to reverse measures to make ILR harder to obtain and to crackdown on the discrimination of migrant workers.

Sharon Graham, Unite’s general secretary, said: “The results of this survey are shocking. No workers should have to tolerate discrimination or abuse.

“Migrant workers are doctors and nurses, cleaners, bus drivers, food workers, farm labourers and almost every other job you can think of.

“These workers, like all workers, must be treated with dignity and respect.”