By Michael Gwarisa
Thousands of migrant care workers in the United Kingdom facing exploitative or abusive working conditions could now have a crucial lifeline after the British Government changed visa rules to allow recognised victims of modern slavery to leave abusive employers without putting their immigration status at risk.
The move could be particularly significant for African migrants, including Zimbabweans, who have become an important part of Britain’s care workforce.
The announcement comes just weeks after Andy Burnham became Britain’s new Prime Minister, taking over from Keir Starmer on 20 July 2026. Burnham, who previously served as Mayor of Greater Manchester and Health Secretary, has placed public services and workers’ living standards among the priorities of his administration.
The Home Office said on Thursday that recognised victims of modern slavery holding Skilled Worker visas would no longer be trapped with exploitative employers because of their immigration status.
“No victim of modern slavery should be trapped with an exploitative employer because of their immigration status,” the Home Office said.
“From today, recognised victims on Skilled Worker visas can leave abusive employers and work elsewhere without risking their immigration status.”
Under the previous system, migrant workers sponsored by an employer were heavily dependent on that employer for their right to remain and work in Britain. Ordinary Skilled Worker and Health and Care Worker visa holders who change employers generally have to apply to update their immigration permission and secure a new certificate of sponsorship.
For vulnerable workers, that dependence could create a powerful barrier to speaking out.
And there is substantial evidence that exploitation in Britain’s care sector has been a serious problem.
A 2025 survey by UNISON, involving more than 3,000 migrant care workers, found reports of workers being charged as much as £20,000 by employers or intermediaries before coming to Britain. Some subsequently faced wage deductions, below-minimum-wage pay, poor accommodation and threats of dismissal or being reported to the Home Office when they complained.
UNISON reported that 31% of surveyed migrant care workers had experienced problems with pay. More than a quarter, 27%, said they had been paid below the legal minimum wage, while 36% said they or a migrant colleague had been threatened with dismissal or redundancy after raising concerns.
Housing was another major concern. Nearly one in ten workers living in accommodation provided by care companies described it as poor or very poor, while almost a quarter of those in company accommodation said they shared bedrooms with other workers. In one case, a worker reported 15 people living in a one-bedroom flat.
Racism was also reported extensively, with 46% of respondents saying they had experienced racism at work, including verbal insults and physical abuse.
A 2023 UNISON investigation documented migrant care workers working excessive hours, including reports of 80-hour working weeks and 19-hour shifts without breaks. Workers also reported threats of dismissal and deportation, excessive recruitment fees, wage deductions and substandard accommodation.
The Work Rights Centre has similarly warned that employer-sponsored immigration can increase exploitation because migrants may be unable to work for anyone other than their sponsor. Its research found that sponsorship arrangements can leave workers with significantly reduced bargaining power when confronting abusive employers.
The latest change therefore represents more than an immigration technicality. For workers trapped between an abusive workplace and the fear of losing their right to remain in Britain, it could provide a route out.
However, the new protection applies specifically to recognised victims of modern slavery. It should not be interpreted as meaning that every migrant care worker can simply walk away from a sponsoring employer without following immigration requirements.
The broader challenge remains: ensuring that migrant workers who come to Britain to provide essential care are treated as workers with rights rather than as disposable labour.
