Migrants At Work is a lived-experience-led organisation that works alongside migrant workers to know, claim, and defend their rights in the UK.

Every year, the Home Office expands the shortage occupation list and issues thousands of sponsorship licences to employers. At the same time, migrants are blamed for "abusing" the system, while the system itself enables exploitation.

Through so-called safe and legal migration routes, workers are tied to employers under visa sponsorship, making it risky to speak up, refuse unsafe work, or leave exploitative conditions. Across all sectors, there is a power imbalance where exploitation can persist without breaking immigration rules.

Homegrown slavery: exploitation produced and sustained through state-managed migration pathways. 

Do you need advice? If you're a migrant worker experiencing exploitation, unfair treatment, or problems at work, click on our Migrant Worker Rights tab for more information.