Filipino workers in Newcastle, United Kingdom, are accusing their employer of unfair dismissal, arbitrary salary deductions, and breach of contract.

Migrante UK, the labor rights group assisting the workers, told InfoMigrants that the group of 18 workers were recruited from the Philippines by GME Services to work as ship welders and steel fabricators. They were promised an annual salary of about 39,000 British pounds (45,000 euros) under a two-year contract. 

The workers, all men, allege that they were wrongfully dismissed because of a shortage of work and "project downsizing," though they still had about 4-6 months of promised work on their contract. Further, as their work visas are tied to their employer, the unexpected termination of their work contracts puts them at risk for deportation. 

Wrongful dismissal

Christ Godino of Migrante UK showed a copy of the Demand Letter to InfoMigrants, which outlines the series of events that led to the allegations of dismissal. 

The letter stated that on April 24, the workers were informed of a possible deployment to Spain despite no contractual agreement indicating such measures. It was also unclear how such employment would be facilitated, given that their work contract stipulated working in the United Kingdom. Entry into and working in Spain would require another visa. 

Days later, on April 27, the workers were informed that their employment would be terminated. On April 29, flights were arranged requiring their departure on 1 May. Six of the workers signed the termination notices, which Migrante claimed was under duress brought by the pressure of forced repatriation. 

The details of the workers' allegations and demands include:

• Violations of UK Immigration Law under the Modern Slavery Act
• Arbitrary deductions which included 76 British pounds (88 euros) per month for “start up” costs, allegedly to cover for visa and airfare costs and 500 British pounds (579 euros) per month for accommodations 
• Non-payment of promised weekly allowance of 50 British pounds (58 euros)
• Misclassification of their visa status as "dependents"

As a result, a number of the workers have already returned to the Philippines. Those who remain in the UK are requesting a negotiation meeting with GME for the immediate retraction of their termination notices.

Terry Rae, the GME official mentioned in the Demand Letter, denied these allegations. GME did not respond to InfoMigrants's email requesting a comment on the issue.

Visa reforms

The UK reformed its immigration laws to tighten border controls, streamline work visa and settlement processes, and update asylum procedures, which were rolled out in 2026. Prior to this, visa reforms also took place in the lead-up to Brexit, which eliminated the UK from the EU's visa-free movement policy that allowed workers from other EU countries to work in Great Britain.

A new immigration policy and law have come into force in the United Kingdom. The changes are part of the government's overall strategy to reduce irregular migration, strengthen border controls, and reshape the paths to work, protection and settlement for migrants, refugees and those seeking to live in the UK.

According to a report by the Oxford-based Migration Observatory, the policy shift reflects growing political pressure to reduce migration levels. But migration researchers say work visas account for only a fraction of overall immigration into the UK.

Citing Home Office data, the Migration Observatory said that only 17 percent of non-EU citizens granted visas since Brexit and still legally present in Britain at the end of 2024 were main applicants on work visas. The majority arrived through other routes, including family reunification, study and humanitarian protection.

The report concluded that the UK’s immigration debate increasingly exposes a deeper economic dilemma: governments want to reduce migration while maintaining growth, building infrastructure and filling labour shortages in sectors where domestic recruitment has struggled for years.

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