Skilled Worker modern slavery victims get wider work rights
04 Sep 2026
If you hold a Skilled Worker visa and have been through the National Referral Mechanism as a victim of modern slavery, a rule change published on 3 September 2026 gives you a way to leave an exploitative sponsor without losing your right to work. Normally, Skilled Worker visa holders "cannot normally take up other work if they are not working in the job they were originally sponsored to do," according to the government's explanatory memorandum for Statement of Changes HC 584. This change lifts that restriction for people identified by the Home Office Competent Authorities as modern slavery victims, "allowing them to work for any employer for the remaining duration of their existing permission."
The updated rule text sets out who qualifies: "A Skilled Worker who has been referred into the National Referral Mechanism and is in receipt of a positive Conclusive Grounds decision, where that decision was made during their most recent permission, may have the conditions... amended, such that any work (including self-employment and voluntary work) is permitted, except for work as a professional sportsperson (including as a sports coach)." So you need a positive Conclusive Grounds decision from the National Referral Mechanism, made during your current permission, and the new freedom to work covers employed work, self-employment and voluntary work, with only professional sportsperson or sports coaching excluded.
This change takes effect on 8 October 2026. If you think you may qualify, the Conclusive Grounds decision has to come from the Home Office Competent Authorities through the National Referral Mechanism, so speak to a modern slavery support organisation or an immigration adviser about how to be referred if you have not been already.
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