Thousands of migrant care workers exploited under the UK’s Health and Care Worker visa scheme

The UK Health and Care Worker visa scheme, introduced in 2020, has attracted thousands of overseas care workers. The workers came from countries like India, the Philippines, and Nigeria, all seeking a better life. But the scheme’s weak design created a system ripe for abuse—leaving many scammed, trapped in debt, or exploited.

Recent investigations found that 470 employers were exploiting migrant staff, reports Business Standard. As a result, their licences were revoked, leaving more than 28,000 care workers displaced. Between May 2024 and April 2025, the workers were referred to government “hubs” for relocation. Yet, official figures reveal that only 3.4% of those referred have received assistance.

A flawed scheme

Under the scheme, UK care businesses could quickly hire overseas workers as licensed sponsors—but employer checks were minimal. Also, the system ties workers’ visas to their employers.

This dependency created the perfect conditions for exploitation. Many care workers feared that reporting abuse would cost them their jobs—and their right to stay in the country.

Scammers targeted Indian workers from Kerala the most. A BBC investigation in March revealed a rise in fake care jobs followed the inception of the scheme. A senior police officer told the BBC:

“Fraudsters target individuals from Kerala primarily due to their strong aspirations for better employment opportunities abroad…Many migrants are driven by economic necessity and the desire to support their families, making them more susceptible to scams that promise high-paying jobs.”

A local NGO estimates that 1,000 to 2,000 Keralites remain in the UK after falling victim to these scams. Additionally, many more are stranded in India, having spent their life savings on fake job offers that never materialized. Today, Kera police continue to receive daily complaints about these fake job offers in the UK, Europe, Canada, and New Zealand.

A flawed solution

In response to the growing crisis, the UK government has banned care homes and agencies from hiring new workers from abroad. Moreover, the government is now urging employers to recruit from the existing pool of displaced care workers already in the UK.

According to the draft Immigration White Paper, those currently on Health and Care Worker visas can extend or switch into other routes until 2028 under a transition period. However, the policy remains under review.

The UK issued nearly 700,000 Health and Care Worker visas over the past five years. Cutting off recruitment without fixing the system will do little to prevent the abuse and exploitation of those already in the system—particularly, those affected by the license revocations.

Dora-Olivia Vicol, chief executive of the Work Rights Centre, is urging the government to overhaul the scheme and remove the visa dependency on employers. She said:

“After Covid, England desperately needed more care workers, and thousands of people from around the world answered that call in good faith…But instead of jobs they got scams, and instead of justice they got a referral to a programme that simply doesn’t work as intended.”

Demand the UK to put an end to hostile and ill-thought-out visa scheme that perpetuates modern slavery and exploitation. Sign our petition and call for genuine anti-trafficking immigration policies.