This year, the UK Home Office has cancelled several licenses allowing companies to bring in foreign workers. The cancelled licenses have more than doubled in the year to June 2025, rising to 1,948 revocations compared to 937 the previous year. According to the UK Home Office, licenses were cancelled for abuses such as underpaying and exploiting workers, failing to provide promised jobs, and using work visas to circumvent immigration rules.

Employers in adult social care, hospitality, retail, and construction were among the biggest offenders. The government said the figures show “real action to secure our borders,” while the Conservatives accused ministers of “tinkering around the edges.”

Migration Minister Mike Tapp said many illegal migrants and asylum claims stemmed from visa overstayers, blaming employers who “scam the system.” The Home Office credited better data sharing with police for catching more rule-breakers, alongside expanded sanctions such as business closures and financial penalties.

However, some firms warned the crackdown could harm both their operations and immigrant workers. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp argued migration remains “sky-high” and accused labour of failing to train British workers. Migration Watch UK’s Alp Mehmet said employers should recruit locally before hiring overseas, suggesting higher skill visas require degree-level qualifications.

The move comes under the new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, who said the UK could suspend visas from countries refusing to take back migrants with no right to remain.