Key facts
- Victims of modern slavery in the UK will now be able to switch employers for the remainder of their visa.
- The new rules apply to individuals who receive a positive 'conclusive grounds' decision recognizing them as modern slavery victims.
- This change aims to protect vulnerable workers, such as care workers and chefs, from exploitative employment conditions.
- The previous system tied workers' immigration status to a single sponsoring employer, creating precarious situations.
- The Home Office stated that rogue sponsors exploiting workers will face legal consequences.
The UK Home Office has announced significant changes to visa regulations, offering a reprieve to care workers, chefs, and others who may be victims of modern slavery. Under the new rules, individuals who are formally recognized as victims of modern slavery will be permitted to work for any employer for the remainder of their visa, rather than being tied to a single sponsoring employer.
This policy shift addresses concerns that the post-Brexit skilled worker visa system, introduced in 2021, created precarious conditions for migrant workers. Previously, losing a sponsoring employer could mean losing one's immigration status and facing removal from the UK, a situation that campaigners warned was exploited by rogue employers to enforce long hours, underpayment, and other abusive conditions.
Maj Heather Grinsted of The Salvation Army described the change as a crucial step in helping survivors rebuild their lives safely and with dignity. However, Dr. Dora-Olivia Vicol from the Work Rights Centre noted that the effectiveness of the changes hinges on the accessibility of the modern slavery identification framework, reiterating long-standing calls to decouple visas from employer control.
Recent reports indicate a surge in employers losing their licenses to sponsor workers due to abuses, with over 4,400 licenses revoked in the year to June 2026. The government, through Minister for Migration and Citizenship Jo White, stated that victims will gain the freedom to leave abusive workplaces, while exploitative sponsors will face legal action. The government also plans to strengthen protections and ease employer changes for sponsored workers, as outlined in its immigration white paper.