*Names have been changed to protect anonymity

Abena*, Bernice*, and Chidera* came to the U.K. as migrant care workers, only to find themselves trapped in a wicked system of exploitation and abuse. Abena faced repeated sexual violence from her manager, Bernice endured sexual harassment from her landlord, and Chidera worked almost four months without a day off. The Bureau for Investigative Journalism shares their stories to shed light on a vastly dark issue within the U.K. care sector, where migrant workers fear labor abuses due to their dependency on their employers for their right to stay and work in the country.

Trapped and vulnerable in the U.K. care sector

Migrant care workers in the U.K. face dire consequences if they speak up against exploitation. The existing visa system ties their right to stay and work in the country to their employer, leaving them vulnerable to reprisals, including losing their jobs and visas, and even threats to their safety. The power imbalance often deters workers from reporting abuses, therefore perpetuating a cycle of exploitation.

Kayley Hignell, the interim director of policy said,

Our investigation shows that there are potentially thousands of people trapped in a system which leaves them vulnerable to abuse and threats, powerless to complain, and often losing thousands of pounds. These people are skilled professionals who keep our healthcare services running yet… the best we can sometimes do is help them access a food bank.

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