They are deceived and exploited by middlemen
Nurses and care workers drawn from Africa to work in Britain
The health sector in Britain suffers from a shortage of human resources.
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British authorities cannot deter overseas proxies.
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Zimbabwean care workers are being tricked into the UK by "unscrupulous" intermediaries, withholding half of their salaries and forcing them to live in miserable conditions.
The fraud was exposed at a time when Britain suffers from an acute shortage of nursing staff and care in hospitals and care homes.
In contrast, Zimbabwe is going through a crippling economic crisis, and thousands of trained healthcare professionals are looking for work abroad, yet recruitment agencies - unregulated and mostly run by Zimbabweans in the UK - are taking advantage of them, according to the Daily Telegraph investigation.
“When you work for an agency [in the UK] they pay you 50 percent of your total salary,” said Jim Moyo, who moved to the UK from Harare in November 2018, to work in a nursing home in Margate. sterling an hour, but after you finish your work these people will pay you seven sterling.”
Moyo added, "Once the taxes were deducted, there are only four pounds left, which is hardly enough for rent, food and other expenses.
The agency tells you, “I paid for the accommodation, the flights and the visa. I am your sponsor,” and continues, “It's like an unfair loan.”
While Zimbabwean nurses have found work in Britain for years, hiring care workers is a new phenomenon, and experts told The Telegraph that a lucrative system for tampering has been built.
“Exploitation does not start on arrival in the UK,” said Zimbabwean-born sociologist Hilary Musarora, continuing that it “starts during the recruitment process in Zimbabwe.”
In order to work in Britain, you must complete the Care Worker Certification Program run by the Red Cross.
“The Red Cross academies are full of care trainees who are hoping in the UK,” said Joseph Zuse, a trainee nurse at Mutare Hospital. To training for the care business in the UK.
It is a huge network of corruption.”
The sponsorship certificate is so coveted that it has been exploited by intermediaries, according to locals.
Zuz said his wife was deceived by "clients" who received $380 to put her on a waiting list for training, even though the official Red Cross certificate costs only $300.
These agents are not employed, accredited or contracted in any way by the Zimbabwe Red Cross, and there is no evidence that the Zimbabwe Red Cross is aware of them.
WhatsApp groups seen by The Telegraph show that so-called "agents" are asking care workers to pay up to £5,000 if they want to link up with UK care agencies.
This created a huge network of corruption.
The 'Certificate of Sponsorship' is granted to relatives and friends first by UK sponsorship agencies, which are run by Zimbabweans, and anyone else has to pay huge fees.
Initial costs
Solicitor Tavi Nyawanza says UK law is clear, the recruitment agency cannot charge a fee to 'recruit' an employee, and the person overseeing the recruitment and hiring should not be linked to the potential employee. British Interior.
However, organizing these agencies remains difficult.
The Department of Health and Social Care said that although it was not acceptable for some overseas agencies to charge a fee to hire people for UK jobs;
Britain cannot pursue proxies (overseas) because they are not under the jurisdiction of the United Kingdom.
"We understand that some entities may use reimbursement terms to offset initial costs if internationally recruited employees do not meet the terms of their contract," a department spokesperson said.
• The sponsorship certificate is highly desirable, which has led to its exploitation by intermediaries, according to local residents.
• 5000 pounds sterling required by the "agent" from the worker if he wants to work in Britain.
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