UK Migrant workers chained themselves symbolically and sang the Nigerian singer’s 2007 hit outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool, opposing proposed settlement reforms that could extend their wait for permanent residence.

Migrant workers in the United Kingdom have used Nigerian singer Asa’s song Jailer to protest proposed immigration reforms that could force some overseas care workers and other lower-paid public service employees to wait up to 15 years before qualifying for permanent settlement.

The demonstration, organised by the UK’s largest trade union, UNISON, took place on Monday, 28 September, outside the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. Around 400 people attended, many wearing symbolic balls and chains to highlight what the union described as the restrictive nature of the proposed visa arrangements.

Videos shared by UNISON showed protesters singing Jailer, released in 2007 by Nigerian singer Bukola Elemide, popularly known as Asa, on her self-titled debut album.

The union said the song reflected themes of “oppression, power and refusing to accept being treated as a prisoner”.

The protest formed part of UNISON’s Fair Visa Campaign, which is urging the government to abandon the proposed changes to the UK’s indefinite leave to remain (ILR) system.

UK migrant workers oppose proposed settlement reforms

Under the proposals outlined by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, the standard qualifying period for permanent settlement would increase, with some workers in lower-paid occupations facing a wait of up to 15 years.

The government’s earned settlement consultation proposed a standard 10-year qualifying period, with the possibility of extending it to 15 years for certain workers in occupations below Regulated Qualifications Framework Level 6, including those on eligible Skilled Worker and Health and Care routes.

Permanent settlement, also known as indefinite leave to remain, allows eligible migrants to live in the UK without time restrictions on their immigration status.

UNISON is calling for the existing five-year qualifying period to be retained for skilled workers. It is also proposing a sector-wide visa sponsorship system for social care workers, arguing that tying workers to individual employers can make it harder for them to leave exploitative workplaces without risking their immigration status.

Speaking at the demonstration, UNISON General Secretary Andrea Egan said migrant workers should not be blamed for the government’s failure to invest adequately 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 argued that extending the settlement period would replace the expectation of permanent residence after five years with “the threat of 15 years of insecurity and exploitation”.

UNISON has urged ministers to withdraw the proposals, warning that uncertainty over immigration status could undermine efforts to retain workers in health and social care.

UK visa changes carry implications for Nigerian workers

The proposed reforms are particularly relevant to Nigerians, who have been a major source of overseas recruits in the UK’s care sector.

UK Home Office statistics show that 18,143 Nigerian nationals were granted visas for care worker and home carer roles in 2023. Nigerians, Indians and Zimbabweans together accounted for 58 per cent of visas granted for those occupations that year.

The figures relate specifically to visa grants in 2023, rather than the total number of Nigerians currently working in the UK care sector.

For workers who moved abroad expecting to build long-term lives there, changes to settlement rules could affect plans involving family, housing and financial security.

The government has argued that settlement should be earned through sustained contribution, good conduct and integration. Its consultation on the proposed earned settlement system closed on 12 February 2026, and the Home Office said the responses would inform the final model.

UK government signals possible review amid criticism

Opposition to the proposals has also emerged within the governing Labour Party.

At the party’s conference on 28 September, Mahmood acknowledged criticism of aspects of the reforms and said the government would seek to balance fairness to people who entered the country legally with fairness to British citizens.

The Guardian reported that her remarks suggested the government could soften the plans following pressure from cabinet colleagues, including Angela Rayner, and trade unions. However, no final decision had been announced in the report.

The debate comes as the UK continues to consider how to manage migration while maintaining essential public services that rely on overseas workers.

For UNISON and the migrant workers who took to the streets in Liverpool, the protest was a demand for greater security, fairer visa arrangements and recognition of their contribution to British society.