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Health & Care Worker Visa holders

Life is uniquely difficult for migrant homecare workers in the UK.

 

Since many homecare workers are only paid for the time they spend at care visits as opposed to their full working time, it is often impossible to earn the minimum salary threshold set by the Home Office without being subjected to exploitative conditions. The sheer glut of homecare providers serving each area also means hours can be hard to come by.

 

From not being provided the promised level of work, to being on the road all hours, having no recourse to public funds, being unable to switch employers - only for the government to propose that people should keep going like this for 15 years instead of the promised five...

 

The UK's treatment of migrant homecare workers who work tirelessly to support disabled, ill and elderly people is a stain on our society.​​

If you or someone you know may be a victim of labour exploitation or modern slavery

​If you believe yourself or somebody else is being exploited by an employer, you can:

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  • Seek confidential advice and guidance via the UK Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline. This is run by the charity Unseen. With your permission they may refer you to relevant agencies for further support, including the National Referral Mechanism. If the National Referral Mechanism formally recognises you are a victim of modern slavery, the restriction tying your immigration status to a specific sponsor will be lifted.

  • Report serious abuse or exploitation at work via the UK’s government’s Fair Work Agency here

  • Complain about pay and work rights via the UK’s government’s Fair Work Agency here

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Here is Unseen's guide for spotting the signs of labour exploitation.

If you are not being provided the work you were promised

If you are not being provided the work you were promised, you may be able to bring an Employment Tribunal claim against your employer. In May 2026, a migrant care worker was awarded £30,000 after not being given work upon arriving in the UK. The Work Rights Centre who handled this landmark case have provided the following advice for people in a similar position:

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A. Keep records of

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1. Your attempts to secure work from your sponsor to demonstrate that you were 'ready, willing and able' to work. This could be emails or WhatsApp messages showing you asked for work to be provided, including clear date and time stamps.

 

2. Your terms of employment i.e. what was promised by the employer and any communication with them

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B. Notify ACAS 

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If you are still employed and the issue is ongoing, notify ACAS immediately, as you have 3 months -1 day to bring an Employment Tribunal claim following a breach. If you resigned or were dismissed for than three months ago, you will likely be out of time to bring an Employment Tribunal claim.​

If you need to find a new sponsor

Unfortunately it is often extremely difficult to find a new sponsor once you are already in the UK. Here is our best advice:

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If your sponsor’s license remains active, consult Autonomy’s Care Visa Sponsor database. Please note that just because an employer appears on this database, it does not guarantee that they are still offering Certificates of Sponsorship or that they will employ staff according to decent pay and conditions.

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If your sponsor’s license has been revoked, you should be officially classed as a ‘displaced worker’. In this scenario, your nearest Regional Partnership (sometimes known as an International Recruitment Hub) has been funded by the UK government and has a responsibility to help you find a new sponsor. Contact them immediately. 

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List of Regional Partnerships

More information about Regional Partnerships

More information about finding a new sponsor is available on this webpage from the Work Rights Centre.

If you are experiencing financial hardship

Organisations worth knowing about

The following organisations exist specifically to support and represent migrant workers. You may wish to contact them. If you know of any others, please let us know and we will add them to this list:

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Campaigns worth getting involved in

Various organisations have secured the funding necessary to run campaigns on behalf of migrant care workers. We encourage you to get involved in these campaigns where you can. If you know of any other campaigns taking place, please let us know and we will add them to this list:

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