UNIONS have accused the government of trying to “pit worker against worker” as they called for an end to “hostility and racism” towards migrant workers.

Some 21 trade unions have signed a migrant workers’ pledge, vowing to stand in solidarity with a group they described as a “vital part of our labour movement and our communities.”

The Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS), RMT, Unison and others insisted that all of Britain’s workers deserve “safety at work, decent pay and protection.”

The pledge says: “No worker should lose their job or be pushed into poverty, unsustainable debt, homelessness or unsafe housing simply because of the colour of their skin or where they were born.

“No worker should be vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and unable to report mistreatment out of fear of losing their job or being removed from the country.”

The statement was co-ordinated by the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, which said that the pledge comes amid a “renewed commitment to the hostile environment” by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

In December, Mr Sunak announced plans to increase raids targeting illegal working by 50 per cent.

Unions have also condemned the  “unworkable” Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill, which would require ambulance crews, firefighters, railway workers and those in other sectors deemed essential to provide a minimum level of service during industrial action.

“We stand against this government’s attempts to pit worker against worker and recognise that united we are stronger,” the pledge said.

Signatories called for an end to temporary visa schemes, which they said put migrant workers at risk of exploitation and abuse, urged a separation between immigration enforcement and labour inspectorates to “ensure everyone can safely report abuse and exploitation” and called on employers not to assist the Home Office with immigration raids.