In one recent case, Indian students at Greenwich, Chester and Teesside universities stopped attending lectures shortly after arriving in the UK, according to a Gangmasters and Labor Abuse Authority (GLAA) report seen by the Observer. They later found themselves in the care sector in Wales, living in squalid conditions with up to 12 people in a three-bed flat and working “up to 80 hours a week, sometimes double shifts”, for “way below the minimum wage. “[The students’] Attendance at the university was low or non-existent and in some cases other people would log in for them in lectures to give the impression that they were present,” the report said. It comes after an Observer investigation revealed widespread labor exploitation in care homes across Britain, with workers from India, the Philippines and countries in Africa charged up to £18,000 in illegal recruitment fees and in some cases forced to work in conditions akin to debt slavery to pay back money owed, with their wages withheld and their passports withheld. In these cases, many of the suspected victims had come to Britain on a legal skilled worker visa introduced by the Home Office to help cover shortages in the care sector. The new figures shed light on other routes being exploited by traffickers and unscrupulous agents in response to increased demand for cheap workers amid a worsening labor shortage in the UK. An Observer investigation revealed labor exploitation in care homes involving workers from India, the Philippines and Africa. Photo: Paula Solloway/Alamy In the case identified by the GLAA, workers reportedly had just 16 hours of online training and in most cases had not undergone a criminal background check, raising concerns about potential risks to elderly and disabled residents. The nursing homes that hired them were allegedly unaware of their backgrounds because they were given false information by the suspected exploiters, who ran a staffing agency. In another case, students were found living in a property in Birmingham where their passports were confiscated and they were forced to work in exploitative conditions, according to Unseen UK, which runs a modern slavery helpline. The students, who also came from India and reportedly spoke little English, were reportedly forced to work 24-hour shifts without breaks and were paid so little they could not afford to eat, according to the charity. The case was referred to the police. Meri Åhlberg, director of research at Focus on Labor Exploitation, said the abuse of people on student visas was a growing concern in Britain due to labor shortages. “There have been students who have been pressured to work in ways that do not comply with their visa and that makes them really vulnerable to exploitation because they can be told by their employer that they will be reported to immigration enforcement or lose their right to be in country,” he said. The findings have led to calls for increased monitoring of student visas and warnings for universities to be vigilant, with the GLAA saying they must monitor student applications, attendance and tuition payments to spot signs of modern-day slavery. The University of Nottingham’s Rights Lab, the world’s largest modern slavery research group, has also described international student recruitment as a high-risk area in UK universities. and warned in a recent report on college campuses that student visas could be used to facilitate human trafficking. Despite the increased risks, it said there was limited recognition of vulnerable students, with only 7.7% of universities it looked at providing specialist training for staff in pastoral roles. It has drawn up a plan to help universities tackle modern slavery, with recommendations including improved staff training and specialist taskforces. International students are a key source of income for universities, with an estimated 605,130 in the UK in 2020-21, according to the Office for Higher Education Statistics – with three-quarters of them coming from outside the EU. The Institute for Fiscal Studies estimates that fees from international students make up about 17% of total industry income. Licensed universities can support students to come to the UK provided they have an offer of a place on a course, while applicants are generally required to have enough money to support themselves and cover their fees and good English skills language. Once they arrive in the UK, their sponsoring university is required to monitor their attendance, engagement and absences. Universities UK, which represents 140 universities, said there were very low levels of abuse in the student system and that many of its members “go beyond what is formally required by the Home Office” to prevent student exploitation. Additional measures he recommends universities take to prevent abuses include instituting pre-application screening calls to ensure applicants’ credibility and increased deposit requirements. Teesside University said it took a “strict approach” to the safety and welfare of students. Attendance was monitored and there were channels for students to seek support. A recent compliance inspection by the Home Office, which included a Higher Education Assurance Team Audit, resulted in the university’s processes being found to be up to the necessary standards, a spokesman said. The universities of Chester and Greenwich have been contacted for comment. The Home Office said: “Criminals who force people into modern slavery for commercial gain will be identified and brought to justice. We have given law enforcement the powers and resources to take action where exploitation is found.
