RCN Accuses Ministers of Stalling Inquiry into Migrant Carers' Treatment

The country’s largest nursing union has accused ministers of stalling an investigation into the mistreatment of migrant carers, as complaints persist about low wages, poor living conditions, and unlawful fees.

Nicola Ranger, General Secretary of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), has urged Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to expedite the promised inquiry into the exploitation of foreign care workers.

Despite government assurances to crack down on unethical practices by rogue employers and agencies, the RCN reports receiving over 100 calls annually from nurses alleging mistreatment.

Ranger said in her letter: “The RCN is deeply concerned by reports of exploitative workplace practices that many international educated nursing staff in the care sector face. Our members report a range of issues from long working hours, excessive repayment fees to exit contracts, substandard and crowded accommodation, and illegal work finding fees.”

Last June, Yvette Cooper pledged to investigate the experiences of migrant workers in the UK’s social care sector after The Guardian exposed widespread mistreatment.

The investigation revealed that many migrant nurses were pressured into paying tens of thousands of pounds for visas with the promise of jobs, only to arrive and find little to no work available.

Some were forced to share rooms—and even beds—with other migrant workers just to afford basic living expenses.

These issues originated from the previous government’s decision to loosen regulations on sponsoring care worker visas in response to a staffing crisis in social care.

At the time, Cooper condemned The Guardian’s findings as a “disgrace” and called for a full investigation to uphold standards and hold exploitative employers accountable.

Since taking office, Labour has stated that this inquiry will be conducted through a new employment regulator, which will be established as part of the employment rights bill. However, with the government yet to define the regulator’s exact role, the process is expected to take several more months.

In her letter, Nicola Ranger warned: “Based on the current timeline, the single enforcement body—dependent on the passage of the employment rights bill—may not be in place until spring 2026 at the earliest. Any subsequent investigation could take months to complete.”

"In the meantime, these exploitative practices will persist and, I fear, may become even more widespread. I urge officials at the Home Office and across government to initiate the promised investigation immediately, ensuring victims are not left to suffer due to bureaucratic delays."

The RCN reports a sharp rise in complaints from care workers alleging mistreatment, with calls to its hotline increasing from just 12 in 2020 to 110 last year.

Many workers have raised concerns about being forced to pay so-called “repayment” fees when attempting to leave their jobs—charges employers claim cover recruitment-related debts. One nurse who sought help from the union was ordered to pay £25,000 to resign—the highest fee the RCN has ever recorded.