9th September 2026
The Government is changing the rules for migrant workers who are victims of exploitation, while also opening new opportunities through Erasmus+.
Changes to the UK's immigration rules announced by the Government on 3 September could have consequences for employers who rely on overseas workers, although the changes are more targeted than some headlines might suggest.
The most significant change concerns Skilled Worker visa holders who have entered Britain legally but are subsequently recognised as victims of modern slavery.
From October, those workers will be able to undertake work in any occupation for the remaining period of their existing visa. In effect, they will no longer be tied to the employer who originally sponsored them. The Government says this is intended to make it easier for exploited workers to escape abusive employment without the fear of losing their right to work.
For legitimate employers, this should not be a major concern. An employer providing proper pay and working conditions has little reason to fear the change.
However, there is a practical issue. A business can spend considerable time and money recruiting an overseas worker, dealing with sponsorship requirements and bringing them to Britain. If that employee is subsequently recognised as a victim of modern slavery, they could leave and take another job without needing to find another sponsoring employer.
That could be particularly significant in sectors already struggling to recruit.
The Government says it is taking a much harder line against employers who abuse the sponsorship system. More than 7,500 sponsor licences have been revoked, including around 1,800 in the care sector.
The message to employers is therefore becoming clearer: sponsoring an overseas worker brings responsibilities as well as access to an international workforce.
There is also a more positive side to the changes.
Britain's return to Erasmus+ is being built into the immigration system, allowing participants to undertake training, traineeships, courses, internships and other activities with UK organisations. State schools and academies will also be able to host certain Erasmus+ participants, while a new Government Authorised Exchange route will facilitate eligible work placements and internships.
For businesses, colleges, universities and other organisations, that could provide useful opportunities to bring in overseas skills and experience without treating every participant as a conventional long-term migrant worker.
The broader message, however, is perhaps more important.
The Government is trying to tighten immigration while making sure that people who are legally admitted to Britain cannot be trapped by their immigration status if they are exploited.
For employers who do things properly, the changes should mainly mean greater responsibility and closer scrutiny.
For those who exploit migrant workers, the message is considerably less comfortable.
And for businesses genuinely struggling to recruit, particularly in areas such as care, hospitality and other sectors dependent on overseas workers, another question remains: if Britain wants to reduce reliance on migrant labour, where will the replacement workforce come from?
That may ultimately prove to be the more difficult question.