Care Industry Needs Skilled Migrant Labour

Abstract

In this chapter I discuss the upgrading of work in the global care industry, with England as a case study. ‘Upgrading’ refers to adding more tasks and training to an occupation, which, ‘may or may not involve greater pay, status and work autonomy’ (Rainbird and Munro, 2003, p. 33).¹ Importantly, upgrading depends on the attributes of a skilled workforce: the surplus of former health care professionals from low-income countries willing to work for reduced wages has enabled this industry to thrive. Personalization policies, in tightening regulations and standards, depend on the capacities of these workers to raise the quality of care above the established bar, without much training. Although all participants are included in my analysis, I concentrate on the former health care professionals (nurses, midwives, occupational therapists, and physiotherapists) in this chapter (71% of the sample).