Migrant care workers in Scotland face displacement and dread at the hands of the Home Office. They must be involved in building the solution, writes Udinyhiwe Unity.
At about 5pm, on a routine evening after work, an email from the Home Office arrived in my inbox. The familiar dread associated with official correspondence came upon me. The message I opened detailed the curtailment of my sponsorship due to my employer’s licence being revoked. In an instant, the foundation of hard work and aspiration I had built was shaken. As a care worker who had acted with professionalism and diligence, the question was unavoidable: how had I earned this misfortune?
It is well known that the UK’s social care sector is under immense strain. Meanwhile, however, a less visible but equally critical crisis is unfolding for thousands of migrant workers who have been displaced due to recent shifts in immigration policy. Closure of the care visa route to new dependants and implementation of stricter salary thresholds have created significant barriers. In this new environment, the Home Office has revoked numerous sponsors’ licences from employers, causing employees to lose their jobs and security. While these actions are officially justified on grounds like noncompliance or misuse of the sponsorship system, these policies are part of a broader governmental effort to reduce net migration. The human consequence is a growing population of legally compliant migrant workers left in professional and personal limbo.
I am one of thousands who have found themselves in this predicament. I arrived in the UK on the social care route, diligently fulfilling my role supporting vulnerable adults and children in a Scottish care home. I complied with all Home Office regulations and the requirements of my employer. I was blameless in my employer’s noncompliance, yet I faced severe and protracted difficulties as a result of these Home Office measures.
Stuck in Limbo
Displacement is often caused by an employer’s failure to meet Home Office compliance standards, yet the most severe consequences are borne by the employee. The struggle to secure a new sponsor leaves skilled professionals in a state of uncertainty. The immediate aftermath of such displacement is characterised by financial instability. With the prospect of being stripped of the right to work and with no access to public funds, individuals are forced to exhaust their savings. This vulnerability fosters persistent fear and uncertainty. Beyond financial strain and job insecurity, the threat of visa curtailment and forced departure creates profound anxiety. This state of limbo takes a heavy toll on mental health and overall wellbeing.
Navigating this situation in Scotland presented a unique set of challenges. Seeking guidance, I approached the Citizens Advice Bureau and local council offices. However, a significant information gap between these local bodies and the Home Office meant that many advisors were underequipped to understand or assist with my specific immigration-related employment crisis. In England in 2024, the government established support hubs in every council to act as a bridge between displaced workers and potential new sponsors. Until recently, Scotland lacked such a coordinated system. In October 2025, the Scottish Government announced a £500,000 fund in October 2025 to assist with relocation costs, but its slow implementation left displaced workers in Scotland at a distinct disadvantage, risking their departure from the workforce or migration to England for better support. It was paradoxical and frustrating to learn that Scottish employers were sourcing staff from the displaced worker scheme in England, while qualified workers already in Scotland were being overlooked due to a lack of local infrastructure.
For those attempting to find another role in the workforce, the criteria set by prospective employers often present another formidable barrier. Requirements such as registration with the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), a full UK driving licence, SVQ qualifications, and access to a personal vehicle, while understandably desirable, can be prohibitive. Many displaced workers are recent immigrants who are building their lives and may not have had time or resources to acquire these credentials, which were not prerequisites for their previous roles. These requirements, which could be attained during employment, now serve to widen the gap between a displaced worker’s urgent need for income and their ability to secure a new position.
The sense of isolation is compounded by a confusing support system. Enquiries at various organisations and hubs in Scotland often lead to referrals back to England-based teams or a circular return to one’s local council. The lack of a centralised, knowledgeable point of contact in Scotland made the process feel hopeless.
A Beacon of Support
Amidst this challenging landscape, one organisation has provided a vital lifeline. The Worker Support Centre, an NGO based in Perth, Scotland, has done exceptional work not only by bridging the gap between licensed employers and displaced workers but also by organising, supporting, and empowering workers to unite and advocate for themselves. Discovering the Worker Support Centre was a turning point, not merely for the prospect of employment, but for the solace of finding a community that truly understood the situation.
To anyone currently navigating this unbidden situation, I offer this message: do not lose all hope. You are not alone, and by organising and uniting our voices we can better position ourselves to speak truth to power and demand effective solutions.
To employers across Scotland, I appeal to you to recognise the pool of skilled, displaced talent already within the country. Greater effort should be directed toward local recruitment before sourcing from further afield.
While I acknowledge the Scottish Government’s efforts to support displaced immigrant workers, particularly in social care, it is vital that support packages are designed so that the workers are the primary beneficiaries. For these measures to have a genuine and wide reaching impact, consultation platforms between government representatives and the workers themselves must be established. Only by diagnosing, discussing, and reviewing the real issues directly with those affected can we arrive at viable solutions.
In conclusion, being displaced from one’s livelihood in a foreign country imposes more than just a financial burden. It exposes profound vulnerabilities and negatively impacts mental health, which endangers not only the individual but the wider community. We must draw sufficient awareness to this subject among licensed employers, government agencies, and all relevant stakeholders in the social care sector.
To everyone facing this challenge; you are not alone, reach out, join your voice with others and do not suffer in silence. There will be light at the end of the tunnel.
Udinyhiwe Unity is a healthcare assistant.