Migrants working in adult social care have reported facing unsustainable working hours, ‘demoralising’ financial insecurity, and persistent employment rights breaches.

In a new report, it was also revealed that the Home Office granted migrant sponsorship licences to at least 177 care providers that had a recent record of labour violations – which included unfair dismissal, unauthorised deductions from wages, and discrimination.

In a survey by charity Work Rights Centre, nearly two-thirds (65%) of migrant care workers reported an alleged breach of their employment rights in the past year.

More than a third (39%) of these respondents did not raise a complaint, and said social pressure, mistrust of authorities, and fear of employer retaliation left them disempowered.

Migrants on the Health and Care Worker visa faced the added fear that reporting their employer could risk their visa being curtailed, and several said their employer had used this as a threat to silence grievances.

Migrant care workers also said their working hours were either ‘all-consuming’ or insufficient and unpredictable, and three-quarters said they were unhappy with their pay.

The Work Rights Centre said the voices of migrants – who make up 32% of care worker roles in England – must be included in the proposed negotiating body that would be responsible for a fair pay agreement for adult social care.

A Home Office spokesperson said: ‘We are deeply concerned by reports of unethical practices within the adult social care sector, and we will continue to act where evidence of abuse is found.

‘The Government recognises the scale of reforms needed to make the adult social care sector attractive, to support workforce growth and improve the retention of the domestic workforce.

‘However, the sector also needs to help ensure international recruitment in the care system is both ethical and sustainable.’