‘I was exploited in the UK care sector – the government must not turn away from survivors’

Sarah* came to the UK to create a better life for her two young children. Moving over from India under a skilled worker scheme, she paid an agent £28,000 to arrange a visa and a full-time job at a care home – using her father’s retirement fund to pay for this.

When she started work at the care home, Sarah was cruelly exploited – given minimal hours, trapped in poor conditions, and threatened with deportation by her employer when she complained. With her family left struggling for food and in dire accommodation, and her exploiters refusing to return her money, Sarah’s mental health suffered and she came close to taking her own life. In February 2024, Justice & Care and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) began supporting Sarah, helping her find new sponsorship and making sure she had the support she needed.

Today, Sarah is determined to stop others experiencing the abuse she faced. In May, the British Government announced its intention to stop overseas recruitment for care workers and change the immigration system more widely, meaning many exploited care workers will not meet the extended qualifying period for indefinite leave to remain. Amid concerns that workers already in the UK have been forgotten, Sarah is writing to urge the government and others to step up to protect them.

Sarah writes:

I am writing to express deep concern about the recent proposals in the UK immigration white paper, particularly as they affect qualified care workers like myself who have been working in the UK under the Skilled Worker visa.

I have personally experienced exploitation without receiving any justice. The money I paid to my employer was never returned, and the emotional toll—on both myself and my family—was ignored. The government has failed to take meaningful steps to compensate victims like me or to hold exploitative employers accountable.

Unfortunately, this situation persists, and many others continue to suffer in silence. I urge the government to take strong, effective measures to prevent such exploitation and to support people like us, who come to this country with hope—not to return home defeated, but to live freely, independently, and with dignity.

The new policy offers little hope, especially for unemployed individuals or those with revoked licenses, as they struggle to find new employers. Instead of enforcing new rules, authorities should focus on bridging the gap between job seekers and employers. Many people, including my friends, are still searching for sponsors but lack guidance or support. Exploitation in the care sector continues unchecked, and the lack of awareness about available help or proper channels worsens the situation.

After the announcement of the 10-year rule policy, recruiters and care sector employers have increased visa and sponsorship fees, urging applicants to switch quickly before the rule takes effect. As a result, many people are paying more than the previous charges.

Many of us came to the UK with professional qualifications in other fields, but due to limited sponsorship opportunities and sector-specific shortages, we committed to roles in the care sector. This decision was not made lightly — we made significant sacrifices and invested our time, energy, and skills into supporting one of the most vulnerable populations in the country, especially after the pandemic.

One of the primary motivations for remaining in the care sector was the five-year route to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR), which offered a pathway to stability for ourselves and our families. The proposed changes to extend the ILR qualification period, especially if applied retrospectively, would have devastating consequences on our lives. It would mean starting over for many who are already years into the process — effectively moving the goalposts in a way that disregards the time, contribution, and trust we have placed in the system.

After struggling so much here in UK, we didn’t give up with a hope that all things will be right one day – ‘its just the period of 5 years’. This sudden shift affects not just our legal status, but our entire lives. Many of us have children who are fully integrated into UK society and schools. We have structured our careers, family plans, and financial commitments around the promise of settlement after five years. Changing this midway creates a wave of uncertainty that impacts our mental health, sense of security, and overall well-being.

We urge the government to consider the real human cost of these policy changes. Retrospective alterations to the settlement timeline would unfairly penalise those who have already dedicated a substantial part of their lives to working in essential services in the UK. We respectfully request that transitional arrangements be put in place to protect those already on the path to ILR under the existing rules, and to uphold the integrity and fairness of the immigration system.

*name changed to protect identity

Find out how Justice & Care expects the upcoming changes to impact exploited workers in the adult care sector and ​our full response here.