A new educational video aimed at informing and protecting international care workers in the UK has been launched following a change in the Social Care Visa Route, which came into effect on the 22nd July 2025.
In the video, produced by The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) and Justice and Care, provides essential guidance on what care workers should expect when working in the UK care sector. This includes:
Both GLAA and Justice and Care have reported a rise in exploitation cases within the care sector. Many workers arrive in the UK burdened by excessive recruitment fees, often having sold property or taken on debt to secure employment.
The closure of this visa route is designed to stop more workers being exploited in this way, however in the UK there are around 40,000 workers who have been displaced and looking for secure employment.
The video features real-life accounts from care workers and urges prospective workers to avoid agencies that charge illegal recruitment fees or impose exploitative conditions.
Andy Brown, National Investigations Manager at the GLAA said:
“It’s important that international workers who are working in the care sector in the UK understand what to expect regarding visa sponsorship and how the UK care system works so there are no surprises.
“We know that not all agencies exploit workers, however, if an offer is being made that sounds too good to be true, or you’re being charged excessive fees to the point that they’re having to take out loans or borrow from family and friends, you may need to reconsider what you’re paying for.
“We are on hand to help if you feel you are being exploited or need assistance in understanding your rights. We have a range of resources available online in several languages, and we have a contact centre with agents on hand to advise and support as necessary. We want to stop worker exploitation, and we hope this educational video will help international workers working in the UK care sector.”
A GLAA Victim Navigator said:
“We are aware of the unfortunate number of international workers being exploited in the care sector and the holistic impact that this can have on their lives. We hope that this video encourages those impacted to have the confidence to report their bad sponsors. There are good sponsors out there – please do not give up hope and please always go direct to the UK government websites when applying for or switching visas.”
The video features real-life accounts from care workers and is available in English, Hindi, Malayalam, and Tamil – helping ensure those most at risk can access this vital information.
Please find video links in four languages below:
If you are an international care worker in the UK and need support to stay safe:
