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 and how to get support if you have concerns about how you are 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 following entitlements:

• You must be given an employment contract
• You must be given regular payslips that show any deductions for Tax and National Insurance if you are required to pay it
• You must be paid a minimum of £11.44 per hour (national minimum wage) if recruited prior to 1st April 24, following which £11.90 per hour will apply or at next point of application
• The Home Office base their minimum on a 37.5‐hour week so if you are sponsored or contracted to work more or fewer hours than this you need to make sure you still meet the minimum salary requirement on a pro rate basis
• An uninterrupted 20‐minute rest break if you work more than 6 hours in a day
• There must be at least 11 hours of rest between working days
• You must have at least one full day off each week, or two full days every two weeks
• You must have at least 5.6 weeks’ paid holiday per year (prorated as appropriate)

The only deductions that your employer may make from your salary are tax, National Insurance, pension, and accommodation costs where your employer provides this to you. Deductions for any other costs must be with your agreement. 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 costs listed that the employer must pay. 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 of the 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 provided you are still employed and undertaking your main sponsored role and must be either in the same occupation code and job level as your main sponsored job or be a role that is on the Shortage Occupation List.

Useful links

Lifted Talent is a website for international care workers requiring job support

Revoked Support is a website providing support for international care workers if your employer’s licence has been revoked.

Your health

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 read more about flu and Covid-19 vaccinations on the NHS (National Health Service) website.

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.