Information and Guidance for International Workers in the Care Industry

Essential resources and support for thriving in your role

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.

Additional Working

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.

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.

Immunisations work by safely introducing a dead or weakened virus or bacteria to the body. This allows the body to build natural defences to the infection without the risks of severe illness the infection could cause if caught. Immunisations reduce the severity and spread of infections keeping you and those you care for safe and well.

More information about flu and Covid-19 vaccinations can be found on the NHS website:

What is Modern Slavery?

Modern Slavery is a term that covers a multitude 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 Dudley, 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.

Had to pay fees during recruitment process.
Been deceived about the nature of the job role, hours and pay.
Worked excessively long hours.
Received little or no pay.
Paid less than hours worked.
Been deducted money from pay for, for example, 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, threats of repercussions, (for example, loss of work, loss of job, reported to authorities)
Been subjected to physical, verbal, or psychological abuse from employer.
Been controlled (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 (BRPs).
Only 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

Speak to someone. You are not alone. We will help and support you.

Contact can be made in confidence to:

Dudley Council's Adult Social Care Commissioning Team

Email: commissioning.dachs.gov.uk
Telephone: 01384 815130

National Modern Slavery Helpline

The Modern Slavery Helpline provides 24/7 free confidential advice in over 200 languages to victims, professionals, and the public

Telephone: 08000 121 700
Website: Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline