Migrant Workers Trapped by UK Visa Systems, Silenced by Abuse

A migrant worker from southern Africa was repeatedly raped by her manager at a UK care home. But she felt utterly unable to report him to the police for fear of losing her job – and consequently, her visa tying her to that employer. Bernice* from the Caribbean faced relentless sexual harassment from her landlord in accommodation arranged by her employer sponsoring her work visa. Chidera*, a live-in carer from Ghana, was once forced to go nearly four full months without a single day off. When she finally complained to a manager about the excessive hours, she was bluntly threatened with being summarily dismissed and having her visa revoked.

Disturbing Pattern Emerges

These are just a few of the horrific experiences described in an eye-opening investigation by The Bureau of Investigative Journalism (TBIJ) and the charity Citizens Advice. They gathered harrowing testimonies from nearly 175 migrant care workers employed at approximately 80 different providers across the UK under the health and care worker visa scheme. Their accounts reveal a widespread pattern of exploitation and abuse of a workforce that is absolutely vital to keeping the UK’s healthcare system running, yet living in vulnerable circumstances.

No Way to Speak Up

Around 30% of the workers who endured mistreatment said they felt intensely scared to raise any concerns about things like harassment, workplace violations or criminal acts by their manager or employer. Their fear stemmed from the very real threat of harsh reprisals, including instant firing from their job, loss of their visa, and potentially even threats to their safety. Under the current visa rules, any complaint that gets a worker dismissed can start a harsh 60-day countdown for them to find a new employer sponsor. If they cannot find a new sponsor in that short window, they become subject to deportation from the UK.

The Problems They Face

Beyond the examples of sexual violence, wage theft emerged as a major issue, with some workers being forced to pay up to £30,000 in illegal recruitment fees just to get their jobs. Others received far fewer hours and smaller paychecks than originally promised by their employers. In some cases, the substandard working conditions and underpayment led to workers ending up destitute and homeless on the streets.  

Reform

Campaign groups, advisors supporting the workers, and politicians have vocally criticized the government’s failure to secure basic protections and rights for this vulnerable yet essential labour force. Andrew Gwynne MP, the shadow minister for social care, called the findings “shocking” and said, “Steps must be put in place to stop those who perpetrate abuse.”

Advocates are urging reforms to decouple workers’ visas from one single employer, allowing them to report abuses and freely move between jobs without fear of instantly becoming undocumented and subject to deportation. “We have a limited ability to help people find a way forward,” said Kayley Hignell of Citizens Advice, adding that they often can only assist exploited workers with accessing food banks and emergency services after everything else has already been taken from them.

The harrowing stories and troubling data have cast a spotlight on this underreported human rights crisis festering within the UK’s healthcare system. Urgent legislative action is needed, experts warn, to uphold the dignity, humanity and basic rights of all workers contributing to British society – regardless of their immigration status.