UK to Halt Overseas Care Worker Recruitment Following Visa Scam Involving Kerala

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Posted by NewAdmin on 2025-05-12 09:56:58 |

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The United Kingdom is set to end overseas care worker recruitment as part of a broader initiative to reduce net migration, following a major visa fraud scandal with links to Kerala, India. This move comes just two months after a BBC investigation uncovered widespread exploitation and deception targeting Indian nationals seeking employment in the UK care sector. The decision marks a significant shift in policy, as the UK had previously leaned heavily on foreign workers to address severe staff shortages in adult social care.

In 2023, nearly 1,40,000 health and care worker visas were granted, with Indian nationals accounting for 39,000 of these. However, the UK Home Office revealed that a large number of these workers were either exploited, charged exorbitant fees, or misled about job opportunities. Some even arrived to find that the promised roles did not exist. In response to mounting concerns, the Home Office has suspended over 470 care providers from sponsoring foreign staff since 2022, citing irregularities and misuse of the system.

Despite the crackdown, current visa holders in the UK will still be allowed to extend their stay or change employers, provided they follow immigration rules. The government is also focusing on training domestic workers to reduce long-term reliance on foreign care staff. Plans include the expansion of the Care Workforce Pathway and the establishment of Fair Pay Agreements aimed at improving working conditions across the sector. An independent commission on adult social care, led by Baroness Louise Casey, has been launched to explore structural reforms.

The latest crackdown was influenced by a BBC exposé that detailed how fraudulent recruitment networks in Kerala scammed thousands of hopeful migrants. These networks thrived after care jobs were added to the UK's shortage occupation list during the pandemic, creating an opening for agents to exploit job seekers. Police in Ernakulam report receiving daily complaints about fake job offers. Victims are often unable to take legal action due to the high cost of litigation, especially after incurring massive debts to pay these fraudulent agents.

Experts say Kerala was targeted due to its high migration aspirations and economic vulnerability. Thousands remain affected, either stuck in the UK in precarious conditions or stranded in India after losing significant sums of money to fake recruiters.

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