16th September 2020
My ref: EO/5
Circular No. NP/227/20
TO: THE SECRETARY
ALL BRANCHES AND REGIONAL COUNCILS
Dear Colleague,
SCRAP NHS SURCHARGES FOR KEY WORKERS FROM OVERSEAS
Following a resolution from the Black and Ethnic Minority Members’ Advisory Committee, the NEC have agreed to promote the campaign to scrap NHS surcharges for key workers from overseas:
It was noted that a collective push by trade unions and campaigners forced a shift in Government policy which saw an unfair NHS surcharge scrapped for NHS staff and care workers. Overseas NHS staff and care workers will no longer have to pay the fee of £400 a year, which is due to rise to £623 in October.
The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants is supporting the on-line petition to MPs calling on the government to extend the NHS surcharge waiver to all migrant workers, including teachers, transport workers, cleaners and charity workers.
The petition can be signed here: https://www.jcwi.org.uk/ask-your-mp-to-scrap-the-nhs-surcharge-for-frontline-workers
Please do circulate this as widely as possible.
Yours sincerely,
Mick Cash
General Secretary