The Home Office has released its end-of-year National Referral Mechanism (NRM) statistics for 2025, revealing 17,560 potential victims of modern slavery referred to UK authorities—a 9 % increase on 2024 and the highest total since the NRM was created in 2009. Although the NRM is primarily an anti-trafficking framework, the data have direct mobility implications: 49 % of adult referrals involved individuals on precarious immigration routes, including irregular entrants and visa overstayers.
The construction, agriculture and hospitality sectors accounted for the largest share of labour-exploitation cases, underscoring the need for multinational employers to tighten supply-chain audits and right-to-work checks. The report highlights that victims often first enter the UK on legitimate visas—seasonal worker, student or skilled routes—before being coerced into illegal work, making early safeguarding interventions critical.
![Modern Slavery Referrals in the UK Hit Record High in 2025, Home Office Data Show]()
Partnering with a trusted visa facilitator can further reduce the risk of workers slipping into irregular status. VisaHQ, for instance, supports employers and assignees through every stage of the UK immigration process—covering everything from seasonal worker documentation to skilled-visa extensions—while providing real-time updates on rule changes that could heighten vulnerability to exploitation. Learn more about its UK services at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
For global mobility and compliance teams, the findings amplify regulatory risk. The Home Office confirms that it will intensify unannounced workplace inspections and may suspend sponsor licences where labour abuse is identified. Companies engaging third-party recruiters must demonstrate “zero-tolerance” due diligence or face civil penalties and reputational damage.
Practically, mobility managers should review vendor contracts, ensure workers know how to access the Modern Slavery Helpline, and incorporate NRM awareness into onboarding for international hires. The government plans additional guidance on spotting exploitation signs in the coming quarter.
The construction, agriculture and hospitality sectors accounted for the largest share of labour-exploitation cases, underscoring the need for multinational employers to tighten supply-chain audits and right-to-work checks. The report highlights that victims often first enter the UK on legitimate visas—seasonal worker, student or skilled routes—before being coerced into illegal work, making early safeguarding interventions critical.
Partnering with a trusted visa facilitator can further reduce the risk of workers slipping into irregular status. VisaHQ, for instance, supports employers and assignees through every stage of the UK immigration process—covering everything from seasonal worker documentation to skilled-visa extensions—while providing real-time updates on rule changes that could heighten vulnerability to exploitation. Learn more about its UK services at https://www.visahq.com/united-kingdom/
For global mobility and compliance teams, the findings amplify regulatory risk. The Home Office confirms that it will intensify unannounced workplace inspections and may suspend sponsor licences where labour abuse is identified. Companies engaging third-party recruiters must demonstrate “zero-tolerance” due diligence or face civil penalties and reputational damage.
Practically, mobility managers should review vendor contracts, ensure workers know how to access the Modern Slavery Helpline, and incorporate NRM awareness into onboarding for international hires. The government plans additional guidance on spotting exploitation signs in the coming quarter.
