Direct Request (CEACR) - adopted 2025, published 114th ILC session (2026)

Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97) - United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (Ratification: 1951)

Articles 2 and 7 of the Convention. Services and information to migrant workers. The Committee notes the Government’s reference, in its report, to existing duties upon sponsors to comply with relevant legislation, including immigration and employment laws, and to ensure, among others, that migrant workers understand their rights, which also apply to migrant workers from the EU. In the last five years, over 2,000 sponsors of migrant workers have seen their licences revoked for not fulfilling their sponsor duties. In addition, the Government reports that: (1) the Welsh Government has included in a dedicated website information on the rights of individuals on a skilled worker visa; and (2) the Scottish Government has provided funding to the Work Support Centre, a registered charity which specifically works in supporting migrant workers employed in Scotland on the Seasonal Worker Visa, and has launched in 2024 the Scotland’s Migration Service, which covers a variety of topics, including topics like housing, work, education, healthcare, visas, and social security, and is available also to people who are living in another country and who want advice on how to move to Scotland. The Committee requests the Government to provide information specifically on its cooperation with other States regarding services rendered to migrant workers, including information on their rights at work before recruitment.

Article 3. Misleading propaganda. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that it is committed to tackling all forms of hate crime and is considering how best to protect individuals and communities from hate. The Committee asks the Government to provide any information on measures adopted in this regard.

Article 6(1)(a)–(d). Equality of treatment. Foreign domestic workers. Migrant workers in agriculture. The Committee notes from the 2024 annual report of the Migration Advisory Committee that agriculture has consistently been identified as a high-risk sector for labour market non-compliance in part because of the vulnerability of workers, particularly those on temporary work visas like the Seasonal Worker Scheme. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on the application of Article 6(1)(a)–(d) to migrant workers in the agriculture sector.

Social security. The Committee notes the Government’s indication that since 1 January 2021, most temporary migrants who make an application to come to the United Kingdom for more than six months, or to extend their stay in the United Kingdom, are required to pay an immigration health surcharge as part of their application and are exempt from National Health Service charges (except for assisted conception services) from the point their application is granted. Maternity care is legally defined as being “immediately necessary service”, thus it cannot be refused or delayed, even if treatment cannot be paid. Some visas offer an exemption from the immigration health surcharge, including the health and care worker visa. Moreover, exemptions are accorded to refugees and asylum seekers and victims of modern slavery and human trafficking. The Committee also notes the Migrant Health Guide produced by the Department of Health and Social Care which is regularly updated to provide advice and guidance on access to healthcare.

Enforcement. The Committee notes that information on complaints regarding discrimination filed by migrant workers is unavailable. The Committee hopes that the Government will be in a position to collect and provide information on the nature and number of complaints regarding discrimination filed by migrant workers with respect to the matters covered in Article 6(1)(a)–(d) of the Convention.