Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what assessment her Department has made of the impact of sponsor licence suspensions and revocations on the immigration status and financial security of sponsored workers and their dependants; and whether she plans to put in place safeguards to protect sponsored workers who may be fearful of raising concerns about their workplace conditions because of the potential impact on their visa and immigration status if they lose their employment.

Sponsored workers have the same rights and protections under employment law as resident workers, and it is a requirement for all sponsors to ensure their workers are aware of these rights.

The suspension or revocation of a sponsor licence does not, in itself, affect a worker’s status, and they can continue working as per their visa conditions until their permission expires. This includes during any 60-day period they are notified of following visa cancellation.

The latest Statement of Changes to the Immigration Rules laid on 3 September introduces a provision to protect any Skilled Worker who has been identified by the Home Office Competent Authorities as a victim of modern slavery, allowing them to work for any employer (other than as a professional sportsperson or coach) for the remainder of their permission. This will incentivise victims to come forward early and guard against those who seek to weaponise the sponsorship scheme to exploit vulnerable workers.

As set out in last year’s Immigration White Paper, we are committed to exploring making it easier for sponsored workers to change sponsors, giving them more control over who they work for and reducing the risk of exploitation, and will publish further details in due course.