Publications


Topics
Publications type

Latest

Fruit Picking
Data analysis 9 Jul 2025

Defra’s survey of seasonal workers demonstrates exploitation risks of short-term, sponsored visas

The prevalence of relocation-linked debts, lack of a viable transfer system between employers, and the absence of an independent grievance mechanism, make the Seasonal Worker visa inherently risky to exploitation.

Read moreRead more
Clapping Woman
Data analysis 6 Jun 2025

Less than 4% of exploited care workers found new work, FOI data reveals

Drawing on data obtained via Freedom of Information (FOI) requests, we find that just 3.4% of migrant care workers signposted by UKVI for job finding support were successful in getting new work via a government scheme.

Read moreRead more
Yvette Cooper
Data analysis 22 May 2025

Drop in Skilled Worker visas should not signal pivot to reliance on high-risk short-term work visas

Latest immigration statistics show employers can no longer afford to hire migrant workers via the Skilled Worker visa route. This leaves unanswered key questions about the future of lower-skilled migration.

Read moreRead more
PAC
Policy 20 May 2025

Skilled Worker visa route comes under scrutiny for migrant worker exploitation

During a Public Accounts Committee (PAC) meeting, Home Office civil servants acknowledged that the Skilled Worker Visa route has been marred by exploitation, but indicated no intention to move away from sponsorship.

Read moreRead more
Starmer
Policy 13 May 2025

Set on reducing net migration at all costs, the immigration White Paper is a confused document that is soft on addressing exploitation

The government's flagship immigration policies rely on the assumption that it can safeguard against exploitation by reducing net migration. Not only is this unlikely to have the stated effect on exploitation, it may in fact exacerbate it.

Read moreRead more