10/11/2023
Attention everyone! We need to increase awareness and keep the spotlight on an issue that has been developing since the beginning of the year and has recently gained media attention.
For some time we have had concerns about unscrupulous social care providers and recruitment companies taking advantage of vulnerable individuals who have come to the UK to improve their lives and support their families. These companies are charging extortionate fees for visas and the promise of a job. We are even aware of one case where the person was charged over £30,000, only to find on arrival in the UK that, the promised job didn’t exist!
We have reason to believe that the care providers involved in this practice are using the funds raised from these excessive fees to undercut established, reputable home care providers. This unethical practice not only falsely drives down the price of care but also exploits the hardworking individuals who have chosen to work in the care sector. The low prices being charged are often as much as 35% less than the real cost of care, making it impossible for established, ethical providers to compete and maintain their position in the sector.
It has been reported that some care workers who are coming to the UK to support the social care sector, are not being paid the correct,
legal wage with some earning as little as £5 an hour and some not being paid at all. In most of of these cases, the carers are being threatened with the loss of their visas and deportation if they speak up against these unfair and illegal practices. This fear of deportation silences their voices and allows unscrupulous providers to continue their exploitative behavior. The behaviours of these providers constitute acts of modern slavery and are a grave violation of human rights.
We strongly condemn these actions and stand in solidarity with the care staff who have been affected by this injustice. It is crucial that the collective social care sector put pressure on the government to address these issues, ensure that local authorities are commissioning care from only reputable and ethical providers, and take robust action to prosecute and close down illegal and morally corrupt providers.
We urge national and local government, the Home Office and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and, to thoroughly investigate these matters and take the appropriate action against those responsible. After all, it’s the CQC themselves who report that providers who treat staff poorly typically deliver poor standards of care. We encourage anyone who has information or has been affected by these practices to come forward and report their experiences. If you are afraid to do this yourself, please contact us, and we will report your concerns anonymously for you.
We are committed to providing a safe and fair working environment for all our employees. We prioritise the well-being and rights of our care staff, and we will continue to advocate for their rights and support them in any way we can.
Help us raise awareness about these issues and to work towards a fair and just care sector for everyone involved. We will only change things and ensure that those who provide care are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve if, we work together.
FairCareSector
