Care workers, chefs and other skilled migrants who flee exploitative employers will be protected from losing their migration status under new visa changes announced by the Home Office.
Key facts
- The Home Office says skilled workers abused by their sponsors can change employer and complete their visa term.
- Employees found to be victims of modern slavery will be allowed to work for any employer for the rest of their visa.
- The change affects care workers, chefs and others at risk under post-Brexit migration rules.
- The concession was reported as an exclusive by the Guardian.
Care workers, chefs and other skilled migrants who were previously at risk of losing their migration status if they left an exploitative employer will be helped by new visa changes, the Home Office has said, according to the Guardian.
Under post-Brexit rules, workers sponsored by a particular employer faced losing their legal status in the UK if they walked away from that job. The new approach is intended to address the situation faced by those who felt trapped with abusive sponsors.
Officials said that if an employee was found to be a victim of modern slavery, they would be allowed to work for any employer for the remainder of their visa, the Guardian reported.
The measure represents a concession by the Home Office, which has acknowledged that skilled workers abused by their sponsors should be able to change employer rather than lose their right to remain and work in the country.
The Guardian described the development as an exclusive, reporting that the changes are aimed at people whose migration status had been tied to a single sponsoring employer.
Why it matters
The change addresses a longstanding concern that tying migrant workers to a single sponsor could leave them vulnerable to exploitation, because leaving an abusive employer risked their legal status. Allowing victims of modern slavery to switch employers for the rest of their visa aims to give them a route out of exploitation without losing the right to stay in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Who benefits from the new visa changes?
According to the Guardian, care workers, chefs and other skilled migrants who face losing their migration status if they leave an exploitative employer will be helped by the changes.
What happens if a worker is found to be a victim of modern slavery?
The Home Office said that if an employee is found to be a victim of modern slavery, they would be allowed to work for any employer for the remainder of their visa.
Why were workers previously at risk?
Under post-Brexit rules, workers risked losing their migration status if they left an exploitative sponsoring employer, according to the Guardian.