Recognised victims of modern slavery on skilled worker visas will now be able to work for any employer for the duration of their stay, ending rules that tied them to abusive sponsors. The change, which took effect on Thursday, follows years of warnings that draconian visa restrictions were leading to widespread exploitation.
End of restrictive sponsorship rules
Under the new rules, workers formally recognised as victims of modern slavery will no longer be tied to a specific sponsor. Previously, overseas victims who left abusive employers had no means of earning money, as they had no right to public funds, and they risked losing their right to be in the UK.
Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons welcomed the change. She told The Mirror: "I have heard repeatedly from survivors how they became trapped in abusive employment, fearful that leaving could put their livelihood and immigration status at risk. That is why I have consistently called for greater freedom for sponsored workers to leave exploitative employers without jeopardising their immigration status."
Cases of exploitation in care sector
In one case highlighted by campaigners, a care worker who paid an agency £20,000 after being promised stable work was forced to hand over £400 a month to keep her visa active, leaving her with less than £300 to live on. The Home Office says there are tens of thousands of similar cases, with employers threatening staff with deportation if they complain.
Campaigners have long pointed to abuse in the care sector. In August, the Royal College of Nursing said current visa rules were "grotesque", warning that staff faced bullying, abuse and financial exploitation from employers.
Government crackdown on rogue sponsors
Jo White, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, said: "No one should have to endure the exploitation experienced by victims like this. Today's changes will give victims the freedom to leave abusive workplaces, rebuild their lives and move on from the trauma of exploitation." She added: "While we support victims, we are also going after those responsible. Rogue sponsors who exploit workers will face the full force of the law."
The Home Office told The Mirror that more than 6,600 sponsors have been stripped of their licence to hire overseas workers since Labour won the general election, more than in the previous decade. This includes 4,400 in the year to June 2026, the highest level on record. Employers who exploit overseas staff risk being referred to the police.
Major Heather Grinsted, Salvation Army deputy director for anti trafficking and modern slavery, said: "We know from our work with modern slavery survivors that one of the key ways to protect people from future exploitation is to help them regain stability through financial independence. Allowing survivors to work for another sponsor for the remainder of their visa is a crucial way to help them rebuild their lives safely and with dignity." She added: "The Salvation Army also welcomes efforts to crack down on rogue employers whose willingness to exploit people further incentivises criminal gangs to trick, trap and trade vulnerable people for profit."
