A UK government program meant to help migrant care workers find new jobs after being exploited has helped less than 4% of them, new data shows. This is raising serious questions about whether the government is doing enough to fix problems in the care industry.
Between May 2024 and April 2025, over 28,000 migrant care workers were referred to special job-finding hubs. These workers had tied visas, meaning they were only allowed to work for the employers who sponsored their visas. But many lost their jobs when it was discovered that hundreds of employers were abusing the system.
According to a Freedom of Information request by the Work Rights Centre, more than 470 care providers had their sponsor licenses taken away after UK Visas and Immigration found they were exploiting staff. These workers were then sent to job hubs to help them find new legal work.
However, the data shows that these hubs have not been very effective. Only about 1,000 out of the 28,000 migrant care workers found new jobs through the program, which is less than 4%. This suggests that many are still struggling or could even be left in legal limbo.
The government created these hubs to help migrant workers stay in the UK legally after losing their original jobs. But critics say the system is failing and that not enough support is being provided to those who were already victims of exploitation.
The care sector in the UK has increasingly relied on overseas workers in recent years due to staff shortages. But the system that ties workers to one employer makes them more vulnerable to abuse. Once their sponsor loses their license, the worker’s visa is also at risk.
Advocacy groups argue that the UK should reform the visa system to give migrant care workers more flexibility and protection. They believe workers should be allowed to change jobs freely without risking their legal status.
As calls grow for changes in the system, the government faces more pressure to fix how migrant workers are treated—and to make sure those who are exploited can rebuild their lives and careers safely in the UK.