Urgent Reform Needed To Protect Migrant Workers In The Care Sector Report Reveals

The Work Rights Centre has published a report “The forgotten third: migrant workers’ views on improving conditions in England’s adult social care sector” which examines what migrants who fill as many as 32% of care worker roles in England think about the sector and what needs to change.

The report is based on interviews and survey responses from migrant care workers, as well as Violation Tracker UK’s analysis of regulatory infringements by 920 companies registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

The findings from the interviews and survey revealed that migrant care workers are subject to unsustainable working hours, low pay, persistent breaches of employment rights and a punitive visa regime.

Analysis of the data on Violation Tracker UK indicates that visa sponsor non-compliance is widespread, finding that:

• A total of 177 companies with a licence to sponsor migrant care workers in August 2024 had a labour standards violations record, dated between 2020 and July 2024. This includes 42 companies that had more than one labour standards violation.
• Together, these companies lost a total of 225 Employment Tribunal cases during that time, for which they were ordered to pay more than £6 million in compensation to workers.
• The most common employment rights breach was unfair dismissal, followed by unauthorised deductions from wages and discrimination.

Karolina Gerlich, CEO of the Care Workers’ Charity, says:
“This report highlights deeply troubling realities for many migrant care workers. We have consistently advocated for action on the inadequate pay, limited advancement opportunities, and excessive working hours that care workers can endure. The accounts in this report — of some workers clocking over 100 hours a week while others face underemployment — only reinforce the urgent need for reform.

Key findings of The Forgotten Third reveal that 59% of respondents had experienced workplace discrimination, including racism, and many feared that raising grievances might jeopardize their immigration status. Migrant care workers also reported significant difficulties in changing visa sponsors, which further restricts their employment options and mobility.

Fear of reprisal and visa complications should not be faced by any care worker, and we’ve heard these same stories from workers through grant applications and in roundtable discussions with frontline staff. No one should feel silenced or afraid of losing their status for speaking out about injustices in their workplace.

The Care Workers’ Charity is calling for urgent action from policymakers, employers, and industry stakeholders to address these systemic issues, including the implementation of better pay, progression opportunities, and support structures that protect workers’ rights without compromising their immigration status.

Every worker deserves respect, fair pay, and a safe environment in which to work. This report should be a wake-up call, and we urge everyone in the sector to take these findings seriously and act swiftly to improve conditions.”