Migrant care workers recruited to support the UK’s care sector are being charged illegal fees of up to £20,000, forced into overcrowded accommodation, and subjected to workplace racism, according to a survey by Unison. The findings expose widespread exploitation within the sector, with workers often unable to speak out for fear of losing their jobs and visa status.
The report highlights serious concerns about how migrant workers—vital to filling the UK’s care workforce shortages—are treated. Many arrive in the UK on health and care worker visas, only to be met with conditions that violate employment and immigration regulations. These issues have prompted calls for urgent government intervention to prevent further abuse.
Illegal recruitment fees and financial exploitation
A survey of over 3,000 migrant care workers revealed that nearly one in four had paid substantial fees to either employers or recruitment intermediaries before arriving in the UK, according to Unison.
More than 100 respondents reported fees ranging from £5,000 to £20,000, while five workers paid more than £20,000 for the promise of a job. Many of these workers originated from Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Zambia, India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Brazil, and Indonesia.
Despite these payments, the conditions they face upon arrival are often exploitative. The survey found that some migrant care workers are housed in overcrowded, substandard accommodation. In some cases, as many as 15 people were forced to share a single-bedroom flat, while others reported sleeping rough due to unaffordable rent and bills.
The UK government has stated that it has a zero-tolerance approach to labour exploitation and has introduced measures to prevent rogue employers from misusing the sponsorship system.
A spokesperson said, “Businesses found guilty of breaching employment law will have their sponsorship licenses refused or revoked, and care workers affected by this will be supported to find alternative employment”.
Workplace racism and threats against migrant care staff
Beyond financial exploitation, many migrant care workers experience racism and intimidation in their workplaces. According to Unison, over 800 respondents reported experiencing racial discrimination at work, with 355 cases involving colleagues and nearly 300 involving managers. Many workers expressed fear of reprisals, with over a third of respondents stating they or a colleague had been threatened with dismissal or redundancy for raising concerns about working conditions.
The UK’s care sector is heavily reliant on foreign workers. According to Skills for Care, around 131,000 social care vacancies remained unfilled in 2023/24, and one-third of all new care workers recruited in the same period came from overseas. However, under current immigration rules, migrant care workers must find a new sponsor within 60 days if they lose their jobs, or they risk deportation.
Unison’s general secretary, Christina McAnea, condemned the findings, saying: “Care staff who come here from overseas are shoring up a crumbling sector. These workers should be treated with respect, not taken advantage of and abused.” Other organisations, including the Runnymede Trust, have called for an overhaul of the sponsorship system to protect migrant workers from systemic exploitation.
