Unions urge ministers to soften planned immigration rules

The proposed changes would make it harder for foreign workers to secure permanent residency in the UK, with most migrants facing a 10-year wait.

Under the government's proposals, people who arrived on health and social care visas would face a 15-year wait, while those who relied on benefits for more than 12 months would have to wait 20 years.

The changes would not apply to people who have already obtained settlement but would cover people already living in the UK, including those who had been expecting to get permanent residence in the coming months.

Labour MPs have criticized plans for the changes to apply to migrants already in the UK, with some calling for reform plans to be scrapped and the five-year route to settlement to be retained for workers.

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