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lukepiper.bsky.social
Solicitor. Head of Immigration at the Work Rights Centre. All things U.K. immigration law / policy mainly. Yorkshireman in Bristol.
216 posts 1,139 followers 327 following
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Posts 24 Comments 26

Unsurprised and disappointed by some reaction to this news which focuses on the migrants impacted and blaming them because they "lack skills" , "scammed the system" etc. From people who work in the sector no less. Fault of gov. Who enabled system? The criminals? Nah, it's the victims.

submitted 2 days ago • 0 comments

Tens of thousands of care workers have been exploited and not able to find new work in the UK. The Government set up a scheme to rematch them with new employers. Less than 4% of exploited care workers have been reported as being helped www.theguardian.com/society/2025...

submitted 3 days ago • 1 comment

Employment tribunals are the central mechanism for resolving work disputes, but many claimants never even see the money. Join barrister Sam Way for our 5th Legal Hub training session to understand strategies for enforcement. ⏰10am Thursday 19 June 💻 Online www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/enforcing-...?

submitted 6 days ago • 0 comments

The gov's thesis is the economy is too reliant on overseas workers. The MAC looked at overseas recruitment in IT/engineering sector. It's detailed (still making my way through it), for a quick insight, this helps to understand how political the white paper was. www.gov.uk/government/p...

submitted 10 days ago • 1 comment

Another BBC investigation of exploited care workers. The cases reported display strong modern slavery/trafficking indicators. Surprised that isn't reflected in the piece beyond references to exploitation. Suspect it's not been considered based on my experience. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

submitted 12 days ago • 0 comments

We’re recruiting an Employment Solicitor or Barrister 🚨 Do you know someone who would thrive helping vulnerable workers find justice? Please share this ad with your networks www.workrightscentre.org/publications...

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

Today's immigration stats show employers can no longer afford to hire migrant workers via the Skilled Worker visa route. This must not signal a pivot to reliance on high-risk, short-term work visas. Read our detailed data analysis and commentary here www.workrightscentre.org/publications...

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

@mrjamesob.bsky.social had a caller called Lewis earlier this morning on LBC. The exchange, I thought, perfectly encapsulated that the pursuit of reducing numbers ever further is very unlikely to penetrate the negative vibes around immigration.

submitted 17 days ago • 0 comments

That this has been so blindingly obvious is instructive. Going further with reducing net migration will produce very little political gains for this current government.

submitted 18 days ago • 4 comments

Blimey. Long term net migration down by almost 50% to 431,000. Massive decline - we've expected this for a while... www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopula...

submitted 18 days ago • 0 comments

For the last year, I’ve been working on an investigation that’s left me staggered. It’s a damning indictment of the UK’s care sector, & the migration system which has allowed millions of ££s to be plundered from communities in developing countries. Free link: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

submitted 24 days ago • 11 comments

Worth remembering that Youth Mobility Scheme visas to come to the UK are not cheap. Including Immigration Health Surcharge, costs come to around £2k. Plus maintenance requirements to hold at least £2530 in an account. This may go someway to explain why not many young people apply.

submitted 20 days ago • 3 comments

This is very serious and worrying. "This data may have included contact details and addresses of applicants, their dates of birth, national ID numbers, criminal history, employment status and financial data such as contribution amounts, debts and payments." www.gov.uk/government/n...

submitted 21 days ago • 0 comments

Author denied UK visa unable to attend premiere of play based on his memoir

submitted 24 days ago • 3 comments

The perversity of Britain's migration rules A Government department, which the NAO says needs 000s more staff, is deporting its own workforce for not meeting new salary thresholds (cos of low pay set by Govt!) @colinyeo.bsky.social @jdportes.bsky.social www.civilserviceworld.com/in-depth/art...

submitted 24 days ago • 11 comments

Brand new data on visa holders' earnings: → Skilled worker visa holders earning median £56.6k → Big variation in earnings by industry: lowest in hospitality, highest in IT/finance → Family of British citizens/residents had median £20k, varying by nationality but not as much as for work visas 🧵

submitted 26 days ago • 1 comment

I'm getting emails from sponsored care workers saying potential employers are turning them away because of costs / announcements. Collision of salary increases, climate and announcements pushing withdrawal of job offers.

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

For our fuller analysis of yesterday's White Paper, please see here:

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

"The government's argument sounds plausible. There's just one problem. It doesn't fit the facts. And the government knows it." www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

submitted 26 days ago • 18 comments

I'd need to listen to the interview, but if this is right it is ill-judged by Khan. Going after "recent wave" of immigrants is still dehumanising and problematic. I don't think people will be reassured by this.

submitted 26 days ago • 0 comments

This is OK on the numbers but any analysis of the expansion of the Health and Care visa to include care roles must take into account how it has been operated and abused. The scale of abuse is so significant that the government is insisting care providers only employ impacted displaced workers

submitted 27 days ago • 1 comment

This. Repeatedly come across this. I've spoken to people working insane hours to meet their paid hours. And most of the time they don't / can't

submitted 27 days ago • 2 comments

An excellent point well made

submitted 27 days ago • 2 comments

The Home Secretary’s response when asked whether the proposal to make migrants wait ten years for permanent residence will apply to people already here hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2025...

submitted 27 days ago • 2 comments