UK allows modern slavery victims on Skilled Worker visas to leave abusive employers without risking immigration status

Recognising the victims of modern slavery on Skilled Worker visas, the United Kingdom Government has announced that they will be free to leave abusive employers without risking their immigration status.

The official information further noted that once an individual is formally recognised as a victim of modern slavery, they will no longer be tied to a specific sponsor and can take up any lawful work for the rest of their visa. It simply means that workers can leave abusive employers without risking destitution, helping them support themselves and rebuild their lives.

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The change will help workers across the Skilled Worker route, including care workers and others who came to the UK in good faith but were exploited by rogue employers. From now onwards, modern slavery victims will be able to leave abusive sponsors as soon as the Home Office recognises them, take up lawful work and start rebuilding their lives.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Jo White, 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.

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 measures are a part of the UK government’s wider efforts to tackle modern slavery and rogue employers who abuse the immigration system.  Through the Immigration White Paper, the government has committed to making it easier for sponsored workers to change employer, reducing dependency on individual sponsors and strengthening protections against exploitation.

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Eleanor Lyons, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, said, “I welcome this change. 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. No victim of modern slavery should have to remain with an abusive employer. Giving victims the freedom to leave, find alternative work and support themselves will help remove a significant barrier that can keep people trapped in exploitation.”