5 Costs Your Employer Cannot Reclaim from You If You Leave Before Your Contract Ends

The Shocking Truth About Unfair Employment Repayments

According to a RCN case study, there was a nurse who got dismissed simply because he refused to sign a new contract that was completely different from what he originally agreed to. Sounds unfair, right? Yet, this is the reality for many internationally recruited nurses stuck in toxic workplaces, afraid to resign because of repayment clauses in their contracts.

Some employers claim that if you leave before completing your contract, you must reimburse them—sometimes as much as £10,000 or more! This forces many nurses and healthcare workers to stay trapped in unhappy jobs.

If you are in a similar situation, this post is for you. I’ll explain five costs your employer legally cannot reclaim from you under UK government guidelines. Read to the end to know your rights before making any decisions.

What You Need to Know Before You Resign

Before any employer recruits you from overseas, they cover multiple costs, including:
✔ Visa fees
✔ Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) fees
✔ Flights
✔ Immigration charges

To recover these costs, most employers include a contract clause requiring you to work for two, three, or even five years before resigning without penalties.

📌 That’s why reading your contract carefully before signing is crucial!

But if you decide to leave early, what exactly can your employer legally claim back from you? Let’s refer to the UK Government Code of Practice for International Recruitment.

Before you resign, know that some recruitment-related costs must be covered by the employer and cannot be reclaimed from you—no matter what’s written in your contract.

5 Costs Your Employer Cannot Reclaim

1️⃣ Agency Fees

Most internationally recruited nurses and healthcare workers are hired through recruitment agencies that charge employers a fee for sourcing, screening, and processing candidates.
✅ Legally, your employer cannot ask you to reimburse this fee, even if you leave early.

2️⃣ Immigration Skills Charge (ISC)

The Immigration Skills Charge (ISC) is a mandatory fee that UK employers must pay for every sponsored foreign worker.

✅ This is a government-mandated charge, and your employer cannot transfer this cost to you.

3️⃣ Sponsor Licence Fee

To hire international workers, UK employers must obtain a Sponsor Licence from the UK Home Office.

✅ Employers cannot demand repayment for this fee.

4️⃣ Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS) Fee

Before applying for a work visa, employers must issue a Certificate of Sponsorship (CoS), which also comes with a cost.
✅ This is an employer-paid expense that they cannot ask you to refund.
✅ If you leave before your contract ends, they cannot deduct this fee from your salary or demand repayment.

5️⃣ Cost of the Interview Process

Some employers spend money during recruitment, such as:

• Travel costs for recruiters

• Assessment center fees

• Online test expenses

  ✅ These are part of the employer’s hiring process and cannot be reclaimed from employees.

Important Notes Before You Sign a Contract

🔹 Ensure you fully understand the repayment clauses before signing any contract.
🔹 If a repayment clause is vague, request an itemized list of costs.
🔹 Employers can only reclaim costs explicitly agreed upon in writing.
🔹 Repayment plans must not include interest or additional penalties.
🔹 If your employer asks for unreasonable repayments, request a further breakdown or seek legal advice.
🔹 Join a union for support—don’t wait until it’s too late!

📌 UK Government Guidelines: Click here to read the full Code of Practice

Final Thoughts: Don’t Stay Trapped in a Bad Job

If you’re considering leaving your job, don’t let the fear of repayments stop you from making the best decision for your career.
✅ Know your rights
✅ Review your contract
✅ Don’t pay for costs you’re not responsible for!

📌 Have you or someone you know experienced an employer trying to reclaim recruitment costs? Drop a comment below and share your experience!

📌 Want to advance your career? Study for a top-up nursing degree, BSc, Master’s, or PhD with UNICAF’s scholarship-backed UK programs!
👉 Apply for a Scholarship Here

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