Information and guidance for international workers in the care industry

From the section: Adult social care commissioning

In this section:

Information and guidance for international workers in the care industry

This page is for people who are recruited from overseas as care workers in Solihull.  

It explains: 

  • your rights
  • sponsorship
  • how to get support if you’re concerned about how you’re being treated by your employer 

Your rights as a care worker in the UK

Like any other worker in the UK, you will have employment rights while you are working in the UK. This is important because the rules could be different to the country where you have come from. 

Under UK law, as a care worker, you have the right to: 

  • an employment contract
  • regular payslips that show any deductions for tax and National Insurance (if you are required to pay it)
  • be paid a minimum of £12.82 per hour (equivalent to £25,000 per annum based on a 37.5 hours per week contract) if you are a newly sponsored care worker as of 9 April 2025*
  • be paid a minimum of £12.21 per hour from 9 April 2025 if you are an existing sponsored care worker (rising to £12.82 per hour if you extend your visa)*
  • an uninterrupted 20‐minute rest break if you work more than six hours in a day
  • at least 11 hours of rest between working days
  • at least one full day off each week, or two full days every two weeks
  • at least 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday per year (prorated as appropriate) 

*The Home Office base their minimum salary requirement on a 37.5‐hour week, so if you are sponsored or contracted to work more or fewer hours than this, you need to ensure you still meet the minimum requirement on a pro rata basis. 

The only deductions that your employer may make from your salary are: 

  • tax
  • National Insurance
  • pension
  • accommodation costs where your employer provides this to you  

Deductions for any other costs must be agreed to by you. All deductions must be shown on your wage slip detailing what the deductions are for. 

Sponsorship in the UK

An employee cannot be asked to repay any of the following costs, as these must be paid by the employer: 

  • sponsor licence cost
  • Certificate of Sponsorship cost
  • Immigration Skills charge 

If the employer is found to have made the employee pay for these costs, it is likely to result in the Home Office taking action against the employer, such as suspension or revoking their licence.  

If your employer has their sponsorship licence suspended, you can keep working and your rights are unaffected until the suspension is removed.  

If your employer has their sponsorship licence revoked, your Certificate of Sponsorship is cancelled, and you have 60 days from the cancellation date to leave the UK unless you find a new sponsor and make a new visa application to stay in the UK. 

Taking on additional work

You are permitted to take on additional work (including voluntary work) for up to 20 hours per week providing you are: 

  • still employed and undertaking your main sponsored role, and
  • in the same occupation code and job level as your main sponsored job, or
  • in a role that is on the Shortage Occupation List 

Useful links

If you are an international care worker looking for employment support, you can find more information on: 

Health support 

As a carer you are eligible for the free flu and COVID-19 vaccinations each winter. Vaccinations are a safe and effective way to protect you and those you care for from the severe effects of flu and COVID-19. 

You can visit the NHS website for further information about the: 

What is Modern Slavery? 

Modern Slavery is a term that covers different types of abuse, where an individual is taken advantage of for someone else’s personal, commercial, or criminal gain.  

Unfortunately, there have been cases of people who have come to work in the care industry in the UK who are experiencing modern slavery. 

In Solihull, we are committed to tackling this by ensuring everyone has the right to: 

  • be treated fairly
  • feel safe and free from threat or exploitation in the workplace
  • fair working conditions as set out in UK law 

If you suspect you have experienced modern slavery, you should report this to the police. 

Report a crime 

Common indicators of modern slavery

You could be a victim of modern slavery if you have: 

  • had to pay fees during the recruitment process
  • been deceived about the nature of the job role, hours and pay
  • worked excessively long hours
  • received little or no pay
  • been paid less than the hours you worked
  • had money deducted from pay, for example, for fees or accommodation not provided by the employer
  • been told money is owed to the employer
  • had to work without the correct equipment or training
  • felt trapped and unable to leave the job
  • been forced to work through fear due to threats of repercussions, for example, loss of work, loss of job, reported to authorities
  • been subjected to physical, verbal or psychological abuse from your employer
  • been controlled or manipulated, for example, no freedom of choice, being told what to say
  • been asked to hand over or not been in possession of own identity documents including passport, visas, biometric residence permits
  • only been allowed to stay in accommodation provided by employer (cannot choose where to live)
  • lived in overcrowded accommodation
  • had to share a room with someone previously not known, and had no choice who to share with
  • been made to distrust authorities in the UK 

Support and advice

If you need support, we are here to help. You can contact us in confidence by emailing asccommissioning@solihull.gov.uk 

Support is also available from: 

For further information and guidance, visit: