Kenyan Care Worker in the UK Describes Gruelling Hours and Withheld Pay

Lydia Kabute, a Kenyan care worker in the UK, has described long hours, withheld pay, and insecure working conditions under the care visa system.

Kabute moved to Britain in 2023 under the care worker visa route, joining a growing number of overseas recruits filling gaps in the country’s strained social care system. A mother of two, she began work supporting elderly and vulnerable people, often travelling between clients and working shifts that exceeded 100 hours a week. 

She said the role was demanding but meaningful, and that she believed her work was essential. Her experience reflects a wider reliance on migrant labour in social care, particularly workers from countries such as Kenya and Nigeria. While these workers play a key role in maintaining services, many report difficult conditions.

Kabute said she faced withheld wages, unpaid travel costs, and strict sponsorship rules that tied her to a single employer. At one stage, she lacked stable housing and slept in her car between shifts, which she said affected her health.

She argued that the sponsorship system leaves workers exposed. Losing an employer can result in the loss of legal status, which discourages some from reporting mistreatment. 

Kabute said she had seen colleagues experience harassment and unfair practices but felt unable to speak out due to concerns about their immigration status.

Uncertainty over immigration policy has added to these challenges. 

Proposed changes could extend the period required to qualify for indefinite leave to remain from five years to up to 15. Kabute said this has created anxiety about her future in the UK. Her attempts to bring her children to join her have also been unsuccessful, following the rejection of her family visa application.

Now living in Dorset, she continues to work in care while managing ongoing uncertainty.