London, Feb 11 (Reuters) - A survey conducted by trade union UNISON revealed that numerous foreign workers in Britain's social care sector have fallen victim to fraud, facing exorbitant fees to secure jobs, residing in overcrowded accommodations, and earning below minimum wage.
Of the more than 3,000 individuals surveyed on health and care worker visas, nearly a quarter had paid money to agencies or providers in exchange for promised jobs. Shockingly, some individuals paid over 20,000 pounds ($24,700) for a job opportunity. One single mother sold her belongings and borrowed 5,000 pounds from relatives, only to find no work upon arrival in Britain.
With approximately a third of care workers in England being migrants from countries like Nigeria, Zimbabwe, India, and the Philippines, brought in to fill post-Brexit vacancies and attend to the healthcare needs of an aging population, concerns have been raised by charities and unions. The post-Brexit visa sponsorship system has been criticized for potentially enabling employers to exploit workers by leveraging deportation threats.
The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority has reported an increase in cases of labor exploitation, debt bondage, and financial abuse in the care sector. Despite the government's new measures in November to address the issue, exploitation of migrant caregivers persists.
UNISON's General Secretary, Christina McAnea, denounced the widespread exploitation of migrant care workers, calling for reforms to prevent such abuses. Many workers are essentially treated as indentured laborers, and reform is necessary to raise standards across the care sector.
The survey highlighted appalling living conditions, with nearly a quarter of respondents sharing bedrooms in care accommodations and instances where 15 individuals squeezed into a one-bedroom flat. Over a quarter reported earning less than the legal minimum wage of 11.44 pounds per hour, with 57% unable to cover their expenses, as shown in the Nov. 20-Jan. 6 survey.
Amid escalating immigration concerns in the UK, there are growing debates surrounding the strain on public services, population growth, and the indispensable role of foreign workers in driving the economy.
($1 = 0.8098 pounds)