Twice as many licenses that enable the companies to bring in migrant workers were revoked in the previous year compared to the last 12 months, based on updated data. The ministers warned employers regarding the shameful abuse of foreign workers.
The Home Office warned that the bosses had their licenses cancelled because they had abused the immigration system. This includes underpaying and exploiting workers, as well as using the work visa system to help foreign workers circumvent the law regarding their stay and entry into the country.
Now, the government is facing struggles to manage the immigration system, and has added that the figures showed a continued delivery of “real action to secure their borders”. The Home Minister’s figure reveals 1,948 sponsors for skilled and temporary workers had their licenses cancelled in the first half of the year 2025. The figure was 937 in the past 12-month period.
The Conservative stated that ministers were tinkering around the edges of the issue and were not concerned about cutting the number of people reaching the UK.
As per the government, employers in adult social care, retail, construction, and hospitality belong to the heaviest offenders. Licenses were revoked for violating the rules, including failing to provide promised work nd underpayment.
Some employers have been accused of using visas to exploit workers who need the work to remain in the country.
Mike Tapp, Migration Minister, told BBC Breakfast that a large portion of asylum claims and unlawful migrant workers are actually visa overstayers. He further added that a part of the employers who are abusing the migrant system, and bringing workers when they should not be.
He said that the license removal meant Labour was delivering on its promise, assuring that British workers should have the first priority of getting work and have opportunities.
The Home Minister said that more employers were being caught breaking the rules.
Home Secretary Sabana Mahmood said that the UK could suspend visas for the countries that refuse the return deals on migrant workers. However, some firms said that they rely on migrant workers and that punishment threatened not only their business but also the immigrant workers themselves.
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Phulip said that immigration remains sky-high, and asylum grants are at record levels. He further added that various sectors, from care to construction, are captivated by immigrant workers because the Labour refuses to train British workers or to get people into work.
Concurrently, the Chairman of the think tank Migration Watch UK, Alp Mehmet, stated that while the number of licences cancelled is higher than the year before, he should point out that nearly 50,000 organizations can issue them. He further added that those seeking higher skill visas must have a degree-level qualification, and employers must look for them first locally before going overseas.
