UK introduces stricter visa rules to protect overseas workers from employer exploitation

The UK government is introducing stricter rules for employers hiring foreign workers. Companies that violate visa regulations could face a two-year ban from hiring overseas staff, doubling the previous sanction period. New measures will ensure employers cover visa sponsorship costs, preventing them from passing these expenses onto workers. Action plans for businesses that breach visa rules will now last a year instead of three months. The changes aim to protect overseas workers, particularly in the care sector, from exploitation. Since July 2022, 450 sponsor licenses in this sector have been revoked due to violations.