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Hostile environment changes 'not going far enough,' Labour warns
On the back foot: Sajid Javid

THE government’s decision to change immigration rules under which migrant workers could be denied the right to strike is “not going far enough,” Labour said today.

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell has raised concerns that international staff taking part in recent strikes by university lecturers could have had their visa sponsorship withdrawn — or even have been deported — if they exceeded 20 days’ unpaid absence in a year.

Home Secretary Sajid Javid announced yesterday that he would be “making changes to the guidance and immigration rules for migrant workers,” which would “add legal strike action to the list of exceptions to the rule on absences from employment without pay for migrant workers.”

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