Below is the story of one of our members. This accompanied the letter we sent to MPs in September 2024. Other stories were written by Kate, Anonymous A, Julie, KR and Rachel. You can download all of our stories here.
I was very happy when the opportunity came up to work in the UK as a care assistant. I was given the impression that I would be working in a care home, but when I got here we were told we were employed as domiciliary care workers and that we will have to start driving. I have never driven in the UK before but I had no choice because we were constantly being threatened with revoking our Certificate of Sponsorship if we don't do what they want.
We were made to start driving from 6am in the morning until 10.30 or 11pm at night and we could be forced to work 10 days or 13 days straight, with no rest. If you complain about tiredness, they tell you that they are the one that will decide when you rest and if you continue to complain they will threaten to revoke your CoS.
Working with these people made me go into depression. I started having suicidal thoughts because we sold everything to come to the UK. I got here, I am practically living in poverty, we are living from hand-to-mouth and still being threatened to be sent back home. This is no longer a Certificate of Sponsorship but a Certificate of Slavery. Everything about this visa is slavery. I borrowed money to do a lot of courses to be able to get another job but no one wants to employ anyone that needs a CoS.
Then they asked everyone to go and buy a car. Having bought a car, we are now only given 1.5 hours or 3 hours’ work in a day. On behalf of all Health and Care Worker visa holders, please deliver us from this exploitation. We want to work but we can't get work.
People are silent because of their threats and bullying. The Home Office giving migrants sixty days to leave the UK has empowered these employers. In one of our meetings, my employer said there is nothing we can do to them. They said we can go to any employment tribunal in the land, and no one will be able to help us or deliver us from them. They said the contract we signed is binding and they can dismiss or revoke our CoS at any time.
We are indeed living in bondage. I am tired. I cry practically everyday.
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