Exemptions would be welcome but health surcharge should be scrapped, says UNISON

Responding to Labour leader Keir Starmer’s proposal at Prime Minister’s questions today (Wednesday) that health and care staff should be exempted from the immigration health surcharge, UNISON assistant general secretary Christina McAnea said:
“Dealing with the pandemic has shown more than ever how NHS and care services rely on staff from overseas. It beggars belief that we’re making them pay extra to work here and keep us safe.
“Workers who come to the UK pay for the services they use through tax and national insurance. This fee should be scrapped completely but exempting health and care staff would be a good first step.”
​Notes to editors:
– UNISON is the UK’s largest union, with more than 1.3 million members providing public services – in education, local government, the NHS, police service and energy. They are employed in both the public, voluntary and private sectors.
Media contacts:
Anthony Barnes M: 07834 864794 E: [e-mail]
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Source: UNISON Health care news - May 20, 2020 Category: UK Health Authors: Anthony Barnes Tags: News Press release Christina McAnea NHS staff Source Type: news