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The Homecare Association condemns the exploitation of nurses and care workers in any form. Every provider must be accountable for the way it operates, regardless of the pressures in the system. Effective enforcement and reform of the wider system must go hand in hand to tackle the root causes.
The Homecare Association has responded to a new report from the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), From Recruitment to Reality: Exploitation of Internationally Educated Nursing Staff in Social Care, published today. The report sets out evidence of exploitation experienced by internationally educated nursing staff and migrant care workers in adult social care, including unlawful recruitment fees, excessive repayment clauses, immigration-related coercion, altered contracts, underpayment, and bullying and harassment.
The Homecare Association is unequivocal that these practices are indefensible. Every provider is accountable for the way it treats its workers, and the pressures in the system are never an excuse for mistreating people. Many providers operate responsibly and treat their staff well. A minority do not, and they betray both their workers and the reputation of a sector that millions of people rely on.
The Association supports strong and effective enforcement against rogue operators, bogus sponsorship and poor employment practice, and it backs reform of a visa sponsorship system that ties a worker's right to remain in the UK to a single employer. That imbalance of power is open to abuse and should be removed.
Enforcement alone, however, will not build a fair system. The Homecare Association calls for better commissioning and market shaping, a fair price for care through a national contract, enabling fair pay and secure income for workers, and fair regulation that roots out exploitation and poor-quality care.
Dr Jane Townson OBE, Chief Executive of the Homecare Association, said:
“Exploitation of social care nurses and care workers is indefensible, in any form. The practices this report describes, including unlawful fees, excessive repayment clauses, coercion and harassment, have no place in homecare or anywhere else. Every provider is accountable for the way it treats its workers, and system pressures are never an excuse for mistreating people.
“Many providers operate responsibly and support their staff well. A minority do not, and they betray both their workers and a sector that millions of people rely on. We support firm and effective enforcement to remove exploitative operators, and we back reform of a visa system that hands too much power to a single employer.
“Enforcement alone, however, will not build a fair system. We need improvements in commissioning and market shaping, a fair price for care through a national contract, fair pay and secure income for workers, and fair regulation that roots out exploitation.
“The Prime Minister's vision for a National Care Service is the moment to get this right. Immigration policy, employment rights, regulation and the way care is commissioned and purchased must be aligned, with the person receiving care and the people who provide it at the centre.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
The RCN report, From Recruitment to Reality: Exploitation of Internationally Educated Nursing Staff in Social Care, is published on 7 August 2026.
The Homecare Association is the UK's largest care provider membership body and the leading association for homecare providers. Its 2,100 members support older and disabled people to live independently at home.
