A care firm in Salford has been accused of exploiting migrant workers.
Sources including a former member of staff, Salford City Unison, and a Salford councillor have claimed there are poor working conditions at Dementia Care and Support at Home Limited.
This includes a claim that migrant workers have been told they will be 'sent back to their country' if they complain about how they are being treated.
READ MORE: 'I don't think either of us will be voting... I don't think our opinion counts'
The allegations concern staff living in the UK with Health and Care Worker visas. If a migrant worker who has the visa loses their job, they can be told by the Home Office to find a new role within 60 days or have to leave the country.
The company has denied the claim, but it apologised to all of its staff if 'anything stated to them has been construed in this way.' It stated that not one overseas contract has been cancelled by the company in the two plus years it has had a sponsor licence.
Dementia Care and Support at Home provides care services to people with dementia within their own homes. The MEN understands that the firm has a contract with the Northern Care Alliance NHS Foundation Trust to provide care services in Salford.
The Trust was asked if it was aware of the claims about care workers being exploited, but it has not provided a statement responding to the allegations.
Salford council also has responsibility under the Care Act in providing publicly funded social care. The council has told the firm to make improvements or face losing support for its contract.
A town hall spokesperson said: “We have set a clear timeline for improvements to be made by the care company or we will consider our position. We have been absolutely clear with them that improvement needs to be made.
“It is vitally important that staff have appropriate terms and conditions of employment and are treated well for the great work they do in caring for some of our most vulnerable residents in Salford.”
Idris Kauji, from India, worked at Dementia Care and Support at Home for 14 months before finding a new role. He has claimed that he was told in several meetings he can 'go back to his country' if he was not happy at the company.
The 42-year-old claimed he was asked to work for 15 to 20 hours each month unpaid "as a favour" to the firm, and that he was missing £600 from his final salary.
He also alleged that he had to work shifts from 7am in the morning until 10pm at night.
He claims that the experience left him feeling "unbearably stressed" and "depressed."
The company denied that staff were asked to work for free, but said it is investigating "grievances" and "pay issues" after being made aware of these.
Steve North from Salford City Unison said: "Workers have told us how they have been threatened to be 'sent back to their country' if they stand up for themselves.
"These workers have been threatened with disciplinary action if they call in sick - one worker had to show a picture of their own vomit in the street to be able to go back to their home to recover.
"These workers deal with vulnerable Salford citizens, and such draconian measures pose a risk to them as well as the workers.
"Taxpayers money is being used to fund these services and a clear solution to ensuring that workers are not exploited and citizens receive the best care - is to insource adult social care so Salford City Council can get to grips with this crisis."
Salford Mayor Paul Dennett has pledged to bring some social care services in house during his next mayoral term.
Dementia Care and Support at Home said that it is "looking into everything raised" by Salford City Unison.
It added that an image of vomit was not requested, but it was sent by a worker with an explanation of why they were unwell.
Salford Councillor Mishal Saeed claimed the way workers are treated at the firm is "shocking and unacceptable", and that she has met with staff and "heard cases of appalling work conditions."
She added that she is looking forward to a period of improvement from the company.
A representative of Dementia Care and Support at Home defended the company and how it treats workers.
They said: "Unison have raised a grievance with us and we are looking into everything raised.
"Turning to the visa revocation comments, we have denied this and have apologised to all staff if anything stated to them has been construed in this way. We value our staff and appreciate all they do and how they go above and beyond for the company, our service users and their families.
"We follow procedure when it comes to sickness, as do all companies, and we feel we are lenient as we follow the thought process of assisting our staff rather than reprimanding them. We do have evidences of this.
"We have also located the message re the vomit in the street and it was not requested, Rather, it was sent to our offices with an explanation the staff member was not well. We do not expect staff to work when not well as this places a risk to our service users.
"Concerns are welcomed so we can improve as a company and ensure all staff and service users are happy with us and the care we provide. Our carers are all excellent and provide high quality of care, which we are proud of. We provide intensive levels of training to our staff.
"In respect of Idris Kauji’s comments, we cannot comment too much as we are in the process of seeking legal representation in respect of this matter. Again, we have evidences of wrong doings but cannot disclose this at this moment in time due to legal action which is ongoing. We refute the free work was requested and as soon as we were made aware of the grievances involving issues as well as pay issues, we have been actively looking into this.
"As a company we have not exploited, dismissed or suspended anyone for bringing their concerns forward. This is also evidence based. Not one overseas contract has been cancelled by our company in the two plus years we have had a sponsor licence.
"We feel we are a fair and caring employer and have helped all the new overseas sponsored care workers to settle in for when they first arrive, give extra training, pay the real living wages to all of our employees, we give advice on how to open a bank account, find schools for their children and register with a GP.
"We appreciate all our staff and are willing to work with them for any issues raised."
