URGENT PRESS RELEASE

ARE YOU AN OVERSEAS WORKER LOOKING TO SECURE A WORK PERMIT OR AN EMPLOYER WISHING TO RECRUIT STAFF?

Aston Brooke Solicitors are operating a special service, where due to the unprecedented level of support for the judicial review, employers are being provided the opportunity to recruit OVERSEAS staff in the industry including senior carers for FREE. There are NO RECRUITMENT FEES involved.

The offer is open to all workers in the healthcare industry and SENIOR CARERS including those that have NO EMPLOYER or an employer unwilling to pay the rate of £7.02, or whose WORK PERMIT and/or VISA has EXPIRED.

The BENEFIT for Employers is that they will be provided with a large volume of CVs of staff they could potentially employ WITHOUT the need to pay recruitment fees.

Mr Majeed of Aston Brooke who spearheaded the judicial review to prevent thousands of overseas senior carers being deported commented:

“I have been involved in this industry for some time now and one of my concerns was the recruitment fees charged to either employers or employees in the industry. I have heard some real horror stories from individual carers, nurses and other sectors of the health care industry which prompted me to do something about the situation.”

Mr Majeed was able to instigate change due to the influence the firm has in the industry as a result of the judicial review, allowing his firm to build up a database of employers comprising of large corporate groups and smaller care homes.

He continued:

“I decided to provide all the employers free recruitment in order to bring change in the sector. The overseas workers have struggled enough to support their families, and the additional burden of recruitment fees meant that they had to take out loans to cover the costs. There was the need for equilibrium in this equation.” 

Aston Brooke would urge both overseas workers and employers who wish to take advantage of this OFFER to contact Aston Brooke

"MR KASHIF MAJEED NAMED IN THE FIRST EVER 'POWER 50' IN THE CARE SECTOR BY CARING BUSINESS MAGAZINE" JAN 2008

Mr Majeed was announced as making a significant impact in the care sector due to the judicial review brought against the Border & Immgration  Agency in relation to the guidance published on the 13th August 2007. The judicial review proved to be the integral part in conjunction with all the support from the sector which resulted in the Secretary of State backing down in face of the legal challenge.

"SUCCESS FOR ASTON BROOKE AND THE HEALTHARE SECTOR" DEC 2007

Mr Majeed, Principal of Aston Brooke Solicitors representing the health care sector stated that he was delighted with the result. He added:

“The fact that the Secretary of State has now agreed to undertake a consultation with all the panel members is a victory for the entire healthcare sector. This proves that the Government cannot simply implement policies without full consideration of the effects. My aim was to highlight this issue at the highest forum which has finally borne fruit.”

He continued to state:

“I believe that this has been a combined effort by all the senior carers lobbying local MPs, support by small and large corporate groups including Southern Cross Healthcare, Four Seasons Healthcare, Barchester Healthcare and the European Care Group. Finally, the continued support from Mr Martin Green, Chief Executive of ECCA. He has provided an unprecedented level of support for the legal challenge.”

Mr Raman Purewal, heading the Work Permit Department at Aston Brooke added:

“The policy change of August 2007 could potentially have torn the industry apart. With a massive number of employers’ stating that the removal of their senior care workers from this sector would set the industry back at least 5 years. This result was only possible due to the support from all the employers. Not only did these employers support this Judicial Review finically but more importantly with their time. The time and effort spent by the employers should not be overlooked, if we had not been provided the numerous number of statements our task would have been that much harder.”

The consultation has already begun through correspondence between ECCA and the BIA with further meetings to be arranged by Aston Brooke representing the Panel. The judicial review proceedings have been put on hold for 3 months. The aim of the consultation is to set a revised rate of pay which will be agreed by the entire sector. However, Mr Majeed added if the outcome of the consultation proved to be a detriment to the health care sector then the judicial review would be resurrected.

As a result of the implementation of the salary requirement of £7.02 many senior carers had been forced to leave the UK and others to overstay due to the uncertainty within the sector. In light of the recent developments Mr Majeed has formulated a detailed plan catered for the overseas senior carers.


He stated:

“I had arranged free consultations for all senior carers in December 2007 and saw over 300. I decided the best option would be to request leave to remain for those senior carers whose work permits and visas had expired or were about to expire to protect their positions so that they can apply for a fresh work permits once the consultation sets a new rate of pay. I would discourage all senior carers from taking the student route as this would cause further uncertainty in the future.”

In addition to the consultation and as a result of the legal challenge the BIA will shortly be releasing a new guidance for the transitional measures for senior carers. A short synopsis has been highlighted below.

New Guidance-A synopsis of the rules

The rule changes will mean that those carers who got their work permits issued on or before the 31st December 2003 the skills criteria, in relation to the requirements of the job, and the going rate salary level of £7.02 will be waived and a 12 month extension will be granted.

The other options will include:

Option 1:

Apply for an extension with your existing employer at the going rate of £7.02

Option 2:

Secure work with a new employer (transfer of the work permit) at the going rate of £7.02 per hour where the skills criteria, in relation to the requirements of the job will be waived.


Next Steps for All Senior Carers

It is now imperative that all senior carers who find themselves without work or their current leave to remain is about to expire or has indeed expired contact Aston Brooke Solicitors immediately in order to protect their immigration position in light of the recent developments.

If you are a care provider or an overseas carer in this position or you wish to offer your support for the judicial review then please contact us.

FREE IMMIGRATION SEMINARS

Aston Brooke Solicitors free immigration seminars for overseas senior carers in light of their success in the legal challenge against the Border & Immigration Agency have been a huge success.

Since Monday the 21st December 2007 over 200 overseas senior carers have visited them to seek advice on how the new policy change (instigated by the judicial review) by the BIA which has yet to be announced will affect them.

Mr Majeed, the Principal of Aston Brooke Solicitors said:

“I was amazed at the amount of overseas senior carers who attended our offices. They came from far away as Aberdeen, Manchester, Birmingham and Somerset to name a few. It was clear that the industry was desperate to seek advice on the new policy relating to overseas senior carers. Many had no idea what they had to do next and others were seeking legal advice and assurance of how the new policy would affect them. It was clear to me that the free seminars had achieved what they were set out to do which was to help those overseas carers who now sought guidance which was delivered through clear and transparent advice.”

Mr Majeed will also set up meetings with the BIA to discuss the “going rate” of £7.02 which has caused most of the initial problems in the industry. The meeting will be attended by the English Community Care Association (ECCA), the National Care Association (NCA), UNISON and other Panel members. The aim of the meetings is for the BIA to consult with the sector as agreed in the judicial review proceedings.

The free seminars are continuing until Friday the 21st December 2007. However, there is also another exclusive announcement:

Lifetime Offer of ”Free Consultations” for Senior Carers

Aston Brooke Solicitors have now announced that in order to help all those senior carers who cannot attend the seminars this week a lifetime offer of a “free consultation” to ALL overseas senior carers starting from today.

A complete department has been set up at the firm to cater for the overseas senior carers. It has become clear that there is a demand and one which needs to be serviced.

For further enquiries please contact Mr K Majeed or Mr R Purewal

The Free Immigration Seminars have been arranged from Monday 17th December 2007 to Friday 21st December 2007 between 10am and 5pm.

NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY

WEEKEND APPOINTMENTS CAN ALSO BE ARRANGED

Therefore, if you fall in the category below it is important that you attend:

1. If your work permit was granted in 2003
2. All those overseas senior carers whose work permits have expired
3. All those whose work permits are about to expire
4. All those whose who have found new employers and want to transfer their work permits
5. All senior carers whose employers cannot afford to pay the £7.02
6. If your work permit was granted after 2003 then a legal avenue is still available for securing your work permit
7. Any other enquiry relating to the recent changes can be raised at the seminars

Aston Brooke Solicitors aim is to protect the overseas senior carers at any cost. It is so important that we act now as the legal challenge has been successful and a fresh consultation will take place with the sector and the Border & Immigration Agency.

Please contact Mr K Majeed or Mr R Purewal as a matter of urgency to confirm your attendance please click here

Please find attached a link to recent articles which were published on the Caring Business website. Please click here. You will need to undertake an advanced search on the website by typing in "Aston Brooke Solicitors" to reveal the articles

You may also be interested in reading the latest article which was published in the Healthcare Bi-Weekly Magazine by clicking here

Mr Majeed attended the Care Show on the 25th October 2007 to highlight the legal challenge which was being advocated by Caring Business. Please click here

Further news on this issue can be viewed on Balita Pinoy. Please click here

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