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Article summary

The Work Rights Centre (WoRC) has published a report calling for reforms to the UK’s work visa sponsorship system to better protect migrant workers from exploitation. Drawing on a six-country comparison (Australia, Canada, Finland, the Republic of Ireland, New Zealand, and the USA), the research reveals that current practices expose workers to overwork, underpayment, and coercion—risks that could contravene the European Convention on Human Rights by amounting to forced labour and degrading treatment. The report states that while the Home Office has undertaken some policy responses, such as increased enforcement action against non-compliant sponsors, there is little compensation or measures available for exploited workers, and the National Referral Mechanism is an inadequate framework for this. Moreover, an open letter signed by more than 130 experts from charities, the legal field, and academia reinforces the need for reform. The report asserts that without meaningful changes, the UK risks violating its international obligations and...