Migrant workers in the United Kingdom have staged a protest against proposed immigration changes that could extend the qualifying period for permanent settlement to 15 years, singing Nigerian singer Asa’s song ‘Jailer’ while wearing chains.

The demonstration took place on Monday, 28 September, outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, where migrant workers and their supporters opposed proposed changes to the UK’s settlement system.

Videos shared by UNISON, the UK’s largest trade union, on Saturday showed protesters wearing chains and singing the song, released in 2007 by Bukola Elemide, popularly known as Asa, on her self-titled debut album.

In a post on Instagram, UNISON said the protesters chose the song because of its themes of “oppression, power and refusing to accept being treated as a prisoner”.

The union said more than 400 people participated in the demonstration, with many “symbolically wearing balls and chains” to highlight what they described as the restrictive nature of the proposed immigration rules.

According to UNISON, some migrant workers’ visas tie them to specific employers, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation because leaving an abusive workplace or speaking out could affect their immigration status and their families’ future in the UK.

The demonstration was organised under the union’s Fair Visa Campaign, which is calling on the UK Government to abandon the proposed changes.

“Under plans from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, care staff, NHS employees and lower-paid public service workers will have to wait 15 years to qualify to settle in the UK, instead of the current five,” UNISON said on its website.

The union is campaigning to retain the five-year qualifying period for skilled workers. It is also advocating a sector-wide visa sponsorship system for social care workers, which it says would reduce their vulnerability to exploitation.

Speaking at the demonstration, UNISON General Secretary Andrea Egan said migrant workers should not be blamed for inadequate investment in public services.

“The NHS, social care and other essential services rely on the hard work of migrant staff,” Egan said, according to the union.

She criticised the proposed changes, saying they would replace the existing five-year settlement expectation with “the threat of 15 years of insecurity and exploitation”.

Egan called on the Government to abandon the proposals.

The proposed changes are of particular interest to Nigerians, who have been a significant source of workers recruited through the UK’s Health and Care Worker visa route.

UK Home Office statistics showed that 18,143 Nigerian nationals were granted visas to work as care workers and home carers in 2023.

Nigerians, alongside nationals of India and Zimbabwe, accounted for 58 per cent of visas granted for care worker and home carer jobs that year, according to the Home Office.

Watch the video below: