The government’s approach to managing skilled worker visas and preventing the exploitation of migrant workers is slow, lacks oversight, and remains ineffective, according to a new report from the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament.
The committee also found that the Home Office does not know how many people stay in the UK after their visas expire.
According to the UK Parliament report, the PAC reviewed the Skilled Worker visa system, which was expanded in 2022 to support the social care sector. The system is based on a sponsorship model that ties a migrant worker’s visa to a specific employer.
The committee received evidence of exploitation, including long working hours, poor conditions, and debt bondage, and found that the Home Office did not act quickly enough when problems were identified.
Weak monitoring of visa compliance
The PAC found that the Home Office lacks basic information on the visa system. It has not analysed exit check data to determine how many people with skilled worker visas leave the UK when required. Reports inform that there is also limited understanding of what happens to individuals whose employer sponsorship is withdrawn or when visas expire.
The department does not track whether these individuals find new sponsors, return home, or remain in the UK without permission.
Exploitation risks in the UK and overseas remain unaddressed
The report highlights that the Home Office has not done enough to prevent exploitation in the countries where applicants originate. It raised concerns about unregulated agents overseas who charge excessive fees or falsely claim they can help people secure jobs in the UK. The PAC also noted gaps in safeguarding for care workers in the UK, especially when their sponsoring employer loses the right to sponsor visas.
Calls for cross-government action and better planning
The PAC recommends that the Home Office coordinate with other departments to develop a clear response to tackling exploitation and non-compliance. The committee also urged the department to record exit data and assess how well measures to prevent abuse are working. It raised concerns about the government’s recent decision to end overseas recruitment for care roles without a plan to meet future demand in the sector.
The PAC report noted that the upcoming NHS 10-year workforce plan could help address labour shortages by closing the gap in pay and conditions between NHS and social care jobs. It called for updates on how domestic workforce strategies are expected to reduce reliance on overseas workers.
Chair comments on long-standing issues and future risks
Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown MP, Chair of the PAC, said:
“Government moved swiftly to open up the visa system to help the social care system cope during the pandemic. From when the government opened the Skilled Worker visa route in December 2020 up to the end of 2024, 1.18 million people applied to enter the UK. Our report finds that this speed came at a painfully high cost – to the safety of workers from the depredations of labour market abuses, and the integrity of the system from people not following the rules.”
He added:
“There has long been mounting evidence of serious issues with the system, laid bare once again in our inquiry. And yet basic information, such as how many people on skilled worker visas have been modern slavery victims, and whether people leave the UK after their visas expire, seems to still not have been gathered by government.”
Sir Geoffrey warned that changes to immigration policy, such as ending overseas care worker recruitment, could worsen existing problems:
“Without effective cross-government working, there is a risk that these changes will exacerbate challenges for the care sector. Government no longer has the excuse of the global crisis caused by the pandemic if it operates this system on the fly and without due care.”
