Seasonal workers left stranded after UK recruiter loses licence

Nearly 100 seasonal workers from Uzbekistan have been left without jobs after the UK recruitment company Ethero had its sponsor licence revoked on August 2. These workers had paid significant fees, amounting to hundreds of pounds, for visas and other costs, expecting to work on UK farms under a government scheme. However, Ethero was unable to guarantee the minimum required paid hours, leading to the cancellation of its licence. Many workers, like Ubay and Bahromjon, sacrificed their previous jobs and incurred debts to pursue these opportunities, only to find themselves stranded and without recourse. The situation has prompted protests from affected workers, who are demanding compensation for their losses. They have approached the Uzbek government for assistance, highlighting the financial and emotional toll of their predicament. The lack of communication from the recruitment company and the UK authorities has exacerbated their distress, as many were left in the dark about the status of their employment. Caroline Robinson from the Worker Support Centre emphasized the need for the government to implement protective measures for seasonal workers, who are crucial to the UK’s horticultural sector. The Seasonal Worker Interest Group has called for compensation for those impacted and for the immigration status of workers already in the UK to remain unaffected. This incident raises significant concerns about the treatment of migrant workers and the responsibilities of recruitment agencies. The government is urged to establish a clear plan to address the fallout from such licence revocations to prevent similar situations in the future.