Nearly 200 UK social care providers with licenses to employ foreign workers have been found in violation of labour standards, according to new research that underscores widespread worker abuse in the heavily immigrant-reliant sector.
A report by the charity Work Rights Centre revealed that 177 licensed care companies in England violated employment rights, accumulating 250 labour standards violations between January 2020 and July 2024.
The study, conducted by Violation Tracker UK, analyzed Employment Tribunal cases where companies were cited for unfair dismissal, wage cuts, discrimination, overworking staff, and failing to pay minimum wage. In total, the companies lost 225 cases, leading to over £6 million ($7.7 million) in compensation payouts to workers.
Charities and academics warn that the UK’s post-Brexit visa sponsorship system may foster a power imbalance, leaving migrant workers vulnerable. The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, which investigates labour exploitation, reports a rise in cases involving modern slavery, debt bondage, and financial exploitation.
