In a significant step toward protecting migrant workers, the UK Home Office has unveiled a new measure aimed at preventing businesses from exploiting overseas employees.
Under the latest plan, employers found guilty of mistreating migrant workers will be banned from sponsoring them, directly addressing concerns of abuse in sectors such as care and construction.
The UK Government’s crackdown focuses on employers who breach immigration and employment laws. This includes hiring illegal workers, underpaying staff or forcing employees to shoulder the cost of their sponsorship, which should be paid by the employers. Such unethical practices have long been a concern, especially among vulnerable migrant workers who are at risk of being taken advantage of.
The new rules impose tougher sanctions on offending employers. For repeat offenders, sanctions will be imposed for at least two years, which is double the length of the previous penalty. Furthermore, businesses will be required to develop detailed action plans to ensure compliance, extending the duration of these plans to a full year. This is designed to prevent minor violations from escalating into larger, more harmful issues.
Employers must be vigilant in upholding both immigration and employment laws. They must ensure all sponsored migrant workers have the right to work in the UK before the commencement of their employment, avoid charging employees for their sponsorship and guarantee that wages meet the minimum salary requirements.
Should a company’s sponsor licence be revoked, the UK Government, working in cooperation with other bodies, shall be trying to assist affected workers in securing alternative employment. For employers, compliance is not just a legal obligation but an ethical one, safeguarding both their business and the rights of the workers they hire.
Updated: 13 December 2024
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