PCS: Decision to close asylum unit ‘disastrous’
Today’s report by the Commons home affairs committee that says the UK Border Agency is still failing to cope with backlogs in asylum cases comes as no surprise, the Public and Commercial Services union says.
The decision to press ahead with the early closure of the unit responsible for clearing the backlog has proved disastrous and the union has long-argued that the service is chronically under resourced. The Home Office’s plan to cut a further 8,500 jobs, including more than 5,000 in UKBA, will simply make matters worse.
UKBA senior managers have presided over this shambles while accepting huge salaries and bonuses, while blameless staff on low and modest pay are suffering pay freezes.
The union called on the government to put an immediate stop to the planned job cuts and to ensure the agency is properly resourced. It must also end the culture of excessive reward for failure among senior officials.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “We have consistently warned UKBA that it can not continue to cut jobs and resources and maintain an effective service.
“Thousands of claimants, who are some of the most vulnerable people in our communities, will now be left in a state of limbo not knowing whether their claim will be dealt with and whether they are entitled to support or refugee status.”
ENDS
Notes
– For information and interview requests contact PCS national press officer Richard Simcox on 020 7801 2747 or 07833 978216
– The Public and Commercial Services union represents civil and public servants in central government. It has more than 300,000 members in over 200 departments and agencies, and in parts of government transferred to the private sector. PCS is the UK’s sixth largest union and is affiliated to the TUC. The general secretary is Mark Serwotka and the president is Janice Godrich
– Follow PCS on Twitter
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