Man threatened with deportation after being forced to work 29 days for just £300
A man revealed how he was threatened with deportation after being forced to work 18-hour shifts for 29 days straight for a mere £300.
Omar, from West Africa, was given the warning by a crooked agency after he complained about the exploitation he faced whilst working at a care home in Yorkshire. The young man started working gruelling shifts at the care home, which often lasted from 4am to 11pm. He had hoped to send the money back to his family. However, despite being promised a salary of around £25,000 by the agency that arranged his visa, Omar only received £300 after his first month of work.
He was provided accommodation in a care home and enjoyed looking after the elderly residents, but soon realised the harsh reality of his situation when his pay was far less than expected, reports Yorkshire Live. Speaking about his ordeal, he said: "The agency suddenly said we owed them 'solicitor's fees, rent, cleaning and transport costs. When I complained, they threatened to revoke my visa and send me home." He felt trapped, facing poor wages for long hours if he stayed, or returning home empty-handed if he refused to work.
He added: "It became about survival, and even if we were only earning a few hundred pounds a month, if we could send £100 back home, it feels multiplied by 10 there. In my home country (West Africa) things are very tough, so the people who come to England will struggle through the abuse, through the pain, through everything and not say anything because you're in a 'better country'."
Omar spent seven months working 18-hour shifts, day in, day out, with barely a break when he should have been earning thousands. "I remember last Christmas well, as December was my breaking point," Omar explained. "I was told that if I worked more days, worked harder, I could expect more pay. So in December, I worked 29 out of 31 days. But the pay came and it was no more than £500, even though I had worked long long shifts. The pay should have been closer to £5,000, but they still said I owed them 'fees.'"
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And the problems had begun even before Omar had arrived in the UK. He paid the agency in West Africa the equivalent of £10,000 for a visa to come to the UK to work in a care home, when the actual cost of applying for this visa is between £500-£1500. For Omar, there felt like there was no way out of the situation.
Luckily, relief finally came in the form of a police raid on the agency after a tip off about the exploitation of its workers. Omar, a survivor of modern slavery, is currently residing in a safe house in South Yorkshire. He's hoping for his visa to be taken over by a more trustworthy agency.
While he waits, Omar keeps himself busy with volunteer work and gym sessions, supported by his Causeway caseworkers. But being away from his family is hard. "Sometimes when I speak to my family back home, I tell them I can't deal with the loneliness," he shared. "I'm young, I have so much energy, so much potential, but not being able to do anything - it takes a toll on you psychologically."
Unfortunately, Omar's story isn't unique. Thousands of people come to the UK to work in our care system, only to find themselves exploited by ruthless agencies. These agencies force them to work long hours for little pay, and threaten them with deportation if they complain.
Causeway is a charity that supports vulnerable individuals rescued from modern slavery and human trafficking. They provide safe houses, outreach programmes, and recovery services. They're currently running their Christmas fundraising campaign, Rewriting Christmas. The campaign aims to show how Causeway's help can empower survivors to turn their lives around.
Musician and chef Levi Roots, actor Jan Ravens, and former Strictly Come Dancing judge, Dame Arlene Phillips, are supporting the campaign. Dame Arlene Phillips said: "Modern slavery is on the rise, and it's taking place in towns and cities all across the UK."
"That's why Causeway's Rewriting Christmas campaign is so important. Causeway needs your support to continue their work with survivors. Any amount you can donate to them this Christmas will be massively appreciated, and will allow them to continue making a real difference to some of the most vulnerable in society." Donations to Causeway can be made online or via text. See their website for full details here.
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