An Indian nurse who was dismissed by a British care company has secured a major financial victory in a case that could encourage other migrant workers to challenge unfair practices. Kirankumar Rathod, employed by Clinica Private Healthcare Ltd, was awarded nearly £17,000 in unpaid wages and ongoing salary payments following an unusual interim ruling.This decision sheds light on the vulnerabilities faced by migrant workers in the UK’s care sector.
The case highlights growing concerns over labor abuses in the care industry, particularly since the introduction of a new visa route in 2022 designed to address staffing shortages. Reports of worker exploitation and mistreatment have increased significantly in this period.
What was the case about
Kirankumar Rathod, among the thousands of overseas workers who arrived in the UK under the new visa scheme, faced severe financial difficulty when Clinica Private Healthcare Ltd hired him but failed to provide any work. Rathod had paid £22,000 to a recruitment agent in India for the job, only to be left without employment or income. After enduring months of inactivity and receiving a termination notice accusing him of “gross insubordination,” Rathod pursued legal action.
On Monday, employment judge Natasha Joffe ruled in Rathod’s favor, ordering Clinica to pay the overdue wages and continue salary payments until the full tribunal hearing for his unfair dismissal claim. “This ruling is a significant milestone,” said Sarmila Bose, Rathod’s solicitor from the Work Rights Centre, in a statement to Reuters. “It demonstrates that there is recourse available for those who have been mistreated under the current visa system.” Bose emphasized that the financial award has been crucial for Rathod and his family, who had faced severe economic hardship.
Rathod expressed a profound sense of relief following the ruling. “The situation has been extremely challenging, both emotionally and financially,” he told Reuters. “Without any work or pay from Clinica, I struggled to support my family.”
The case has drawn attention to broader systemic issues within the care sector. Bose noted that numerous companies have hired large numbers of overseas workers without actual job openings. “This is just the beginning,” Bose warned. “The total number of people affected could be in the thousands.” The Work Rights Centre, which is assisting other workers with similar issues, suggests that many migrant workers are reluctant to report abuses due to fears of losing their visas or facing deportation.
The case highlights growing concerns over labor abuses in the care industry, particularly since the introduction of a new visa route in 2022 designed to address staffing shortages. Reports of worker exploitation and mistreatment have increased significantly in this period.
What was the case about
Kirankumar Rathod, among the thousands of overseas workers who arrived in the UK under the new visa scheme, faced severe financial difficulty when Clinica Private Healthcare Ltd hired him but failed to provide any work. Rathod had paid £22,000 to a recruitment agent in India for the job, only to be left without employment or income. After enduring months of inactivity and receiving a termination notice accusing him of “gross insubordination,” Rathod pursued legal action.
On Monday, employment judge Natasha Joffe ruled in Rathod’s favor, ordering Clinica to pay the overdue wages and continue salary payments until the full tribunal hearing for his unfair dismissal claim. “This ruling is a significant milestone,” said Sarmila Bose, Rathod’s solicitor from the Work Rights Centre, in a statement to Reuters. “It demonstrates that there is recourse available for those who have been mistreated under the current visa system.” Bose emphasized that the financial award has been crucial for Rathod and his family, who had faced severe economic hardship.
Rathod expressed a profound sense of relief following the ruling. “The situation has been extremely challenging, both emotionally and financially,” he told Reuters. “Without any work or pay from Clinica, I struggled to support my family.”
The case has drawn attention to broader systemic issues within the care sector. Bose noted that numerous companies have hired large numbers of overseas workers without actual job openings. “This is just the beginning,” Bose warned. “The total number of people affected could be in the thousands.” The Work Rights Centre, which is assisting other workers with similar issues, suggests that many migrant workers are reluctant to report abuses due to fears of losing their visas or facing deportation.
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