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This Is Why

How 'fake' families are smuggled into the UK on skilled worker visas

This Is Why

Sky News

News, Daily News, News Commentary

4.0552 Ratings

🗓️ 24 May 2023

⏱️ 26 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Criminal gangs are exploiting Britain's need to fill jobs by using the skilled worker visa system as a route to traffic people into the country.

Under the scheme, someone who has been offered a job in the UK is allowed to bring dependents with them, but Sky News has learned about several cases of abuse of the system.

On the Sky News Daily Niall Paterson is joined by our communities correspondent Lisa Holland and producer Nick Stylianou who have uncovered the story to explain how 'fake' families are smuggled in.

Producer: Emma Rae Woodhouse
Promotions Producer: David Chipakupaku
Editor: Philly Beaumont

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Uber drivers. Have you seen your pay go down while your fees to Uber go up?

0:05.0

All because of an algorithm that reduces your take-home pay, making you work more for less.

0:10.0

We believe Uber's dynamic pay and upfront pricing is unfair.

0:14.0

That's why Worker Info Exchange has launched the dynamic pay claim to seek compensation for drivers who have lost income.

0:21.5

If you've driven for Uber at any time since 2020, it's time to stand together.

0:26.8

Find out more at dynamic pay.org.

0:30.1

You know, when Helen used to get home from work, I'd ask, how are you?

0:34.4

Fine, she'd say. She clearly wasn't.

0:42.3

After 10 years in IT, she was on autopilot. Then she found this job, training up-and-coming tech wizas at the college, same skills but with new people, new challenges.

0:49.8

Now when she gets back, I get the full debrief. Can't get a word in.

0:55.0

Give your skills new life.

0:56.6

Train others.

0:57.7

Search jobs in further education.

1:00.2

I'm Neil Patterson and welcome to the Sky News Daily where we are talking migration.

1:06.2

But for once, it has absolutely nothing to do with small boats.

1:13.5

A Sky News investigation has revealed that a legal route into this country is being exploited and it's often being used for people smuggling.

1:20.5

Clearly, the country is in the midst of a skilled worker crisis at the moment. There are hundreds

1:25.1

of thousands of posts lying vacant up and down the country.

1:28.3

Into the breach, steps organised crime gangs, posing as recruitment firms,

1:33.3

and as they're pocketing huge amounts of cash, they're abusing the skilled worker visa system.

1:39.3

Some arrive here, utterly unsuitable for the job for which the visa was granted.

1:46.4

Others, while they're bringing with them what they claim to be their families,

...

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