Modern slavery in the UK! The problem of exploitation in sponsorship visas

In recent weeks, a study by MetroPOLL was published. A survey was conducted with 1,691 computer-assisted telephone interviews across 28 provinces to determine whether voters want to live abroad.

According to the survey, 39.1% of the participants answered 'Yes' to this question.

So, is it easy to live abroad?

Moving abroad and building a life is not as simple as saying, "I've packed my bags and I'm leaving"... Obtaining a work and residence visa is truly very difficult.

However, unlike the mentality we have here, many countries do not say, "Let them go if they want." On the contrary, they have opened their doors by saying, "If they are qualified, let them come."

Germany's new immigration law has passed through parliament. It also received significant coverage in our press. Headlines like 'Germany opens its doors to qualified personnel' have given hope to many people who want to live abroad.

However, even qualified personnel face serious difficulties when living abroad. For example, the easiest way to come to the UK is through a sponsorship visa. But coming to the UK with this visa can sometimes turn your life into a nightmare, contrary to what you might expect.

WHY WOULD A COMPANY SPONSOR YOU?

When you receive a job offer from a company operating in the UK, the doors of the island open to you. And when you stay in the UK for 3 years with this visa, you gain the right to permanent residency.

It sounds nice, but when you sign a sponsorship visa, if you have fallen into the hands of a malicious company, you are signing your modern slavery contract!

Why would a company in the UK sponsor you? Let's look at the answer to this first.

For example, you are an engineer and you have 5 years of experience. You search for and find a company in the UK that has the right to bring in workers as a sponsor. They immediately make you an offer. This is an offer between 29,000 and 35,000 pounds per year...

Of course, the offer seems attractive under Turkish conditions. However, the real reason the company makes you this offer is not how successful you are!

The company, which would have to hire a newly graduated engineer in the UK for at least 30 percent more than this amount, chooses you because they will pay you less. The criteria are B2 level English proficiency, experience, certificates, etc...

The exploitation begins exactly from this moment.

A STRIKING REPORT FROM A VOLUNTARY ORGANIZATION!

The problem of exploitation experienced with sponsored worker visas has increased significantly in the UK recently.

The Work Rights Centre, a voluntary organization that works to ensure that immigrants and UK citizens have access to justice in terms of employment, published a report 2 days ago.

The results of the report revealed once again how important it is to do good research and contact reliable people when applying for sponsored visas.

It turned out that seasonal workers and skilled workers, approximately 400 immigrants with sponsorship visas, have been researching their rights and consulting various institutions for the last 10 months. (In skilled workers, health sector employees stand out in particular)

The problems experienced by employees in the Work Rights Centre's research are not problems that can be ignored.

It revealed that employees face serious problems ranging from not receiving their salaries, being made to work outside of contract hours, to inadequate accommodation if housing was promised, and working with insufficient safety equipment.

Despite these difficulties, employees cannot resign from their jobs. The most important problem here is that individuals are dependent on their employers in these types of visas.

Especially for seasonal workers and those who come to the UK with a skilled worker visa, being exploited in terms of work is unfortunately much more likely compared to other visas or those working without being subject to a visa.

Companies that employ workers from abroad as sponsors must notify the Home Office if they part ways with their employees. In this case, the person has 60 days to find another job. If they cannot sign a new contract, they have to leave the country.

Precisely for this reason, contract workers are forced to accept these conditions and work due to the fear of not being able to find a new job.

According to the Work Rights Centre's report, only 1 out of 22 registered sponsor companies is inspected. Therefore, the working conditions of the workers are overlooked.

At the same time, there is serious uncertainty among official institutions as to who is actually the authority to complain to on this matter. This causes workers to be unable to seek their rights and continue to be exploited.

Since the Home Office is only concerned with the sponsorship and visa part of the process, the problem of working conditions falling below the human rights threshold is ignored.

Therefore, there seems to be no safe way or system to escape employment abuse. Even though these people make a job agreement in advance to come here, they may not be able to find a company to deal with when they arrive. In other words, having received a job offer and moving to the UK is only a small part of the process.

Of course, not all sponsor companies do this, but as in every field, there are those among those looking for workers with this type of visa who abuse the situation. And unfortunately, as seen in the report, there are quite a few of them...