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Visas: Seasonal Workers

Asked by John McDonnellLabourHome OfficeTabled Answered 15 October 2024UIN 5828

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, with reference to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism's report entitled We sacrificed everything we had: seasonal workers left without jobs after Home Office decision, published on 24 August 2024, whether workers who had their visa applications rejected as a result of the Home Office’s revocation of Ethero’s sponsor licence will be compensated for (a) medical certificates, (b) TLSContact visa processing fees, (c) flights and (d) other costs incurred.

Answered by Seema Malhotra

There are no current plans to compensate those who are currently in the UK and have been impacted by the revocation of Ethero’s Sponsor Licence do not find themselves in a detrimental position so far as the continuity of employment is concerned.

Ethero were removed from the register of licensed sponsors for failing in their obligations towards workers under their sponsorship.

The UK government cannot underwrite the immigration costs of those seeking a visa to come to work in the UK and has no plans to compensate workers for (a) medical certificates, (b) TLSContact visa processing fees, (c) flights and (d) other costs incurred.

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