The UK government has revoked nearly 2,000 #licences allowing companies to hire migrant workers over the past year, highlighting a major crackdown on abuse of the immigration system.

Between July 2024 and June 2025, 1,948 sponsor licences were cancelled, more than double the 937 revocations recorded the previous year, according to the #HomeOffice. Many of the affected employers were accused of underpaying migrant staff, exploiting workers reliant on their jobs to remain in the UK, and using visas to bypass #immigration rules.

Sectors most affected include adult social care, hospitality, retail, and construction, where investigations found widespread rule-breaking. Improved data sharing and new monitoring approaches have helped authorities identify and penalise non-compliant companies more efficiently.

Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Mike Tapp MP, said:
“Those who abuse our immigration system must face the strongest possible consequences. Companies that exploit staff or undercut British workers will not be tolerated.”

The government also reports that illegal working arrests rose by 51%, and over 35,000 people without the right to stay in the UK were removed in the same period – a 13% increase from the year before. Authorities are also cracking down on criminal gangs facilitating irregular migration.

With this surge in enforcement, experts predict that even more #SponsorLcences could be revoked in the coming months as the UK government continues efforts to secure borders and protect vulnerable workers.

Source: gov.uk