Several individuals who arrived in the UK on skilled worker visas are confronting a disheartening reality – the jobs they were assured of do not exist.
Among them is Blessing (name changed for privacy), a Nigerian woman who shared her story with Sky News. Having paid £10,000 to a “agent” in Nigeria for a skilled worker visa, she came to the UK with optimism to work as a carer, only to discover that no job awaited her.
Speaking anonymously to Sky News in the corridor of a food bank, Blessing expressed her frustration and helplessness, saying, “I should be in a position of helping, not receiving aid.” Her aspirations of financial independence and self-reliance were shattered when she realized that the promised job was a mirage.
Blessing recounted how she entrusted a significant sum to the Nigerian agent, hoping for a genuine job opportunity in the UK. However, upon her arrival three months ago, her hopes were crushed as she found herself jobless and reliant on handouts. This situation has taken a toll on her emotionally, as a hardworking individual like Blessing grapples with the harsh reality.
Her story is not an isolated incident. An investigation by a UK news platform has exposed widespread abuse within the skilled worker visa system. Intermediaries are reportedly capitalizing on those seeking work in the UK as caregivers, exploiting their dreams for personal gain.
In Greater Manchester, the Nigerian Community Centre operates a food bank to aid individuals like Blessing, struggling due to false assurances. Mary Adekugbe, the center’s founder, expressed her dismay over the increasing number of skilled worker visa holders needing support, labeling it as “shameful.” A significant portion of those seeking assistance at the food bank hold skilled worker visas, highlighting the gravity of the issue.
Blessing’s plight exemplifies a broader crisis within the skilled worker visa system. People who invested substantial sums to secure a brighter future in the UK find themselves destitute, resorting to food banks for essentials and even facing homelessness.
As more stories of distress emerge, it becomes evident that the problem transcends individual cases. Communities bear the strain as individuals arriving in the UK with dreams of a better life are ensnared in a cycle of poverty and exploitation. Calls for more stringent government oversight and measures to combat immigration system abuse are growing among organizations and community leaders.
In response, a Home Office spokesperson emphasized their commitment to curbing immigration system abuse and pledged to take firm action against employers violating regulations.
The UK granted over 170,000 skilled worker visas in the past year, with a significant surge in the health and care sector. Nonetheless, a stark reality remains – numerous skilled worker visa holders are left without the promised prospects, struggling to survive in an unfamiliar country.
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