Responding to the new report from the Work Rights Centre, RCN General Secretary and Chief Executive Professor Nicola Ranger, said: 

“We raised the alarm last year on exploitation in the care sector and the home secretary has promised an investigation, now is the time. We are receiving hundreds of calls a year from nursing staff fearing they’ve been victims of exploitation, and any further delay risks more staff coming to harm while the full extent of exploitation remains unknown.

“The current visa sponsorship system leaves migrant nursing staff vulnerable to exploitation by unscrupulous employers. There must be a full review of the system and an end to the ability of employers to weaponise staff’s immigration status against them. 

“Crucially, the government must extend the 60-day grace period for sponsored migrant workers to find new employment. Migrant nursing staff need more security and flexibility when they’re moving between jobs. 

“The new Fair Work Agency must be backed with the powers and funding to go after rogue employers and stamp out these abhorrent practices.” 

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