A new report uncovered that although found in violation of labor laws, almost 200 U.K. care providers still had their license to sponsor migrant caregivers granted by the government. This points to major gaps in government oversight of existing labor laws and opens the door for further labor exploitation and modern slavery reports The Guardian.  

Classic labor bait and switch  

Earlier this year, The Guardian revealed that many migrants who come to the U.K. legally for work are not being given the type of jobs they were promised. On top of that, they are being forced to work longer hours than agreed to. But maybe worse, in some cases they are given no hours at all. Since to secure these jobs and travel to them, most workers paid exorbitant fees to companies. Getting no hours leaves them in desperate straits to find other income and vulnerable to modern slavery.  

Dora-Olivia Vicol, chief executive of the Work Rights Centre who released the report, said:  

“Our research finds that breaches of employment rights are endemic in the care sector. This cannot come as a surprise to the Home Office, which granted licenses to companies with a history of labor violations.” 

The study found at least 1 of every 14 companies with a license to sponsor foreign workers previously violated employment regulations in some form. Those violations include workers being paid less than the minimum wage and breaching health and safety rules. Of the carers spoken to, close to two-thirds reported either discrimination, bullying and/or a lack of health and safety protocols. Some reported working up to 100 hours a week.  

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