Does slavery ever go away? Allegations of modern slavery in UK care worker system

Concerns are being raised that the UK’s care worker visa system, with its extended residency requirements, amounts to modern-day slavery, with migrant workers facing abuse and exploitation

[dropcap]A[/dropcap] very heartbreaking video posted by an X user #ourfavonlinedoc has gone viral in the social media space. A speaker has strongly criticised the UK’s care worker visa system, arguing that it perpetuates a form of modern-day slavery.

Also read: UK bans health and care workers’ dependant from Nigeria, other countries

The speaker claims that reforms initiated by the Conservatives and supported by Labour have led to a situation where migrant care workers are exploited and abused.

The speaker asserts that families are increasingly outsourcing the care of elderly relatives to institutions, and that migrant workers are brought in with the promise of permanent residency after five years.

However, the speaker alleges that these workers endure significant abuse, including physical violence and racial slurs, while performing demanding and unpleasant tasks such as cleaning up after patients.

There is no justice in this UK. There is nothing like until modern day slavery. There is nothing like that because this is the headquarters of slavery.

The core of the criticism lies in the potential extension of the residency requirement to ten years. The speaker views this as a form of exploitation, stating, “So you want to hold the whip. Whip them in the back for 10 years. For them to toil their life away.”

The speaker further emphasises that these care workers are not entitled to public funds or benefits, and often work a minimum of 36 hours per week, unlike many local workers.

They argue that these workers are essential, performing duties that families are unwilling to do for their own parents.

Also read: 3,173 Nigerian nurses, midwives moved to UK in one year – Report

The speaker concludes by condemning the UK’s claims of promoting freedom and justice, stating, “There is no justice in this UK. There is nothing like until modern day slavery. There is nothing like that because this is the headquarters of slavery.”

Peculiar Adirika