I, along with thousands of other care professionals in the UK, have suffered a significant reduction in income over the past two years due to the introduction of the "sponsorship visa scheme" by our government. This policy has flooded our market with inexperienced carers and created an unstable work environment for us. Personally, I've experienced a more than 70% drop in income which has forced me to shift my preferred income-producing activities.

The situation is further exacerbated by agencies exploiting carers through zero-hours contracts that pay far below the national minimum wage for actual hours worked. We have a right to find work in our chosen profession but this scheme has left us disenfranchised.

We demand tax breaks from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) and compensation for those affected. Furthermore, we call on legislation to abolish zero-hours contracts that enables modern day slavery.

The NHS relies on carers to take the weight off the NHS, and it is vital to note that during the COVID crisis, us carers stepped up and had to watch in silence how the NHS were constantly thrown into the spotlight, celebrated and glorified as icons of while we were simply abused as usual.

We are in a fast ageing population where carers are needed and this will increase exponentially over the coming years.

Carers duties and hours of work as well as time off needs to be regulated.

Our plea is simple - fair treatment and respect for all care professionals who are integral parts of our society's health system, and in whose hands we place our elderly loved ones. Please sign this petition if you believe in justice and fair treatment for all workers.