The House of Lords Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee has raised concerns over the recent changes to the Immigration Rules (HC 733), which mandate that care providers in England prioritize hiring care workers who previously entered the UK on care worker visas but are no longer employed. This policy aims to assist displaced workers in finding new jobs, making use of an experienced workforce that is readily available.
The Home Office introduced the policy to address issues where many care providers have failed to deliver on promises made to workers or, in some cases, subjected them to severe exploitation. Described as “bad actors,” some care providers have engaged in practices such as debt bondage and modern slavery. Consequently, thousands of care workers have been left without employment due to revoked sponsorships or the inability of sponsors to offer sufficient work.
The Home Office reported that over 39,000 care workers were affected by sponsor revocations as of December 2024. However, the department could not provide an exact figure for the number of care workers currently without sponsorship.
Concerns have been raised that many of these workers have faced severe exploitation, with some experiencing homelessness and destitution. The Work Rights Centre, in its submission to the Committee, called the situation a “national crisis.”
The Committee’s report also highlighted doubts about the effectiveness of the policy, particularly the role of ‘regional partnerships’ designed to match unemployed care workers with new employers. While the Government has emphasized its commitment to improving these partnerships, the Work Rights Centre expressed skepticism, asserting that the policy would not result in significant improvements.
A survey cited by the Work Rights Centre revealed that 73% of affected workers were unaware of the “rematching scheme.” Furthermore, a Freedom of Information request found that only 6% of 7,048 care workers who contacted these regional partnerships between July 2024 and January 2025 found new employment.
In response, the Home Office acknowledged that the new policy would not fully resolve the issues faced by displaced care workers. It confirmed that additional efforts are being explored to support affected workers, including raising awareness and providing more resources for regional partnerships. The Home Office has allocated £16 million for 2024/25 to these partnerships to prevent exploitation and help international recruits understand their rights.
Another key issue raised by the Work Rights Centre is the 60-day limit imposed on care workers who lose their sponsorship. These workers must secure new employment or make arrangements to leave the UK within this short timeframe. The Work Rights Centre argued that this period is insufficient, given the complexities of the immigration system. While immigration officials may delay visa curtailment, the lack of a formal written policy leaves workers in a precarious and uncertain position.
The Home Office defended the 60-day limit as a balance between providing enough time for workers to find new sponsorship and ensuring compliance with immigration rules. It also noted that the sponsor register is publicly available to help workers search for potential employers. The 60-day limit was initially designed to accommodate the now-defunct Resident Labour Market Test and has remained unchanged since 2020.
The Committee concluded by acknowledging the government’s recognition that the new policy will not entirely resolve the challenges faced by displaced care workers. However, it encouraged further scrutiny of the policy’s implementation, including the need for more accurate data on affected workers and measures to improve the success rate of matching workers with new employment opportunities. The Committee emphasized the importance of continued efforts to support these workers and monitor the policy’s effectiveness.
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