Indian Care Worker Wins £28,844 After UK Employer Withheld Work for a Year

An Indian citizen, Shabin Shaji, who arrived in the UK under the post‑Brexit skilled‑worker visa, was awarded nearly £30,000 after his employer, Swan Care Solutions Ltd, failed to provide any work for a year.

Employment Tribunal Rules Swan Care Solutions Owed Wages for Unprovided Shifts

• Shaji paid £17,000 to recruiters before being interviewed via WhatsApp.
• Despite holding a certificate of sponsorship, he received zero shifts from May 2023 to April 2024.
• The tribunal ordered the company to pay £28,843.54 in wages and holiday pay, plus £8,700 in costs.
• Judge Kate Edmonds described the arrangement as an unauthorised deduction from wages.

£28,844 Award Highlights Financial Toll on Migrant Workers

• Total compensation: £28,843.54 (wages) + £8,700 (costs) = £37,543.54 overall.
• Shaji’s personal outlay: £17,000 paid to agents plus living expenses while on a food bank.
• His visa restrictions prevented him from taking other jobs beyond 20 hours/week.

Implications for UK Skilled Worker Visa and Recruitment Practices

• The case underscores vulnerabilities in the sponsorship system that lock migrants into a single employer.
• Charity Work Rights Centre calls for reforms to allow easier employer changes when contracts are breached.
• Swan Care Solutions’ licence to issue certificates of sponsorship was revoked in 2024 after similar complaints.

What Future Reforms Could Protect Migrant Care Workers?

• Introduce a statutory right for sponsored workers to switch employers without excessive penalties.
• Strengthen oversight of recruitment agencies charging upfront fees.
• Mandate transparent contract terms and timely wage payments for care staff.