What to do if your employer does not pay your wages in the UK?

The first step is to call ACAS (0300 123 1100) or Work Rights Centre (0300 4000 100). Which one depends on your immigration status. The call is free and confidential.

Is it free to get help with unpaid wages?

Yes. ACAS, Work Rights Centre, ATLEU — all free for the worker. Legal Aid is available for people on a low income if the case goes to tribunal.

What are the time limits for claiming unpaid wages?

Employment Tribunal: 3 months from the incident. HMRC NMW (national minimum wage): 1-3 years. Modern Slavery cases: no time limit.

What is Modern Slavery?

Forced labour, document confiscation, threats, debt bondage. UK Modern Slavery Act 2015. Reporting via NRM (National Referral Mechanism) — protections apply regardless of immigration status.

What if I do not have the right to work?

Your rights against exploitation still apply. The Modern Slavery framework and NRM are designed for this. Contact ATLEU first — legal professional privilege protects you.

You worked and did not get paid.
We can help.

Q: How much can I get back if my wages were not paid?

At least £12.71 per hour (National Minimum Wage 2026 for 21+), plus holiday pay. Claims usually cover the last 2 years.

Q: Will the Home Office find out if I complain about wages?

ACAS and Work Rights Centre do not share data with the Home Office without your consent. ATLEU works under legal professional privilege.

Updated 23 May 2026 · Verified with ACAS, Work Rights Centre, ATLEU, gov.uk

Three steps — do these now, before choosing your status.

Not paid today — what to do right now Get a guide for my immigration status Modern Slavery / threats — call now08000121700

01 First action

Three things are safe for any immigration status:

1
Record the date of your last wage + the amount owed. Screenshot your payslip, bank statement or WhatsApp with your employer. These are evidence — without them the case is hard to win.
2
Call ACAS — 0300 123 1100 (free, confidential). Ask for a Russian interpreter. ACAS does not report to the Home Office.
3
Do NOT contact the police before taking advice — if any immigration question exists, see a free IAA lawyer first.

02 Pick a guide for your status

Pick your status below to get specific next steps.

🟢

I have refugee / Ukraine statusFull work rights. Call ACAS.

→🟡

I work on a visa tied to my employer (sponsor)Caution — you need visa advice. Work Rights Centre.

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I am a student in the UKDepends on hours worked. Start with Work Rights Centre.

→🟠

I am an asylum seeker with permission to workYou have an ARC card or permission letter. Work Rights Centre.

→🔴

I am an asylum seeker, worked without permissionHigh risk. Do NOT go to ACAS. Start with ATLEU.

→🔴

I have a visitor visa / tourist visaHigh risk. Modern Slavery Helpline is the first step.

→⚪

I don't know / no documentsSafe option — Work Rights Centre will sort it out.

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Not sure? Pick "I don't know" — Work Rights Centre speaks Russian and will figure out your status together with you.

03 Visa help

If your UK status is tied to an employer (sponsor), is a student visa or asylum — get legal advice first before making a claim against your employer. This does not mean giving up your claim; it protects your immigration status.

Free IAA lawyers: lawyers with Legal Aid. Work Rights Centre also advises on immigration risks before you contact ACAS.

04 Free helplines

ACAS0300 123 1100Mon–Fri 8am–8pm · Sat 9am–1pm · interpreter on request

Work Rights Centre0300 4000 100Mon–Fri 10am–4pm · Russian + other languages

Modern Slavery Helpline0800 0 121 70024/7 · free · anonymous

ATLEUatleu.org.ukSpecialist in migrant labour exploitation

05 Documents

Gather these before calling — it will speed things up:

Payslips — all you have
Bank statements showing wage payments
Employment contract
Correspondence with your employer (WhatsApp, email, SMS)
Work schedule / rota, if you have it

No documents — call anyway. Work Rights Centre and ATLEU help even without a contract.

06 What you lose if you make a mistake

Four mistakes that close the case

Tribunal deadline — 3 months
Miss it and the claim will not be accepted. The clock starts from the last unpaid day.
Free ACAS — only before a decision
If you apply to Tribunal without going through ACAS first, the claim may be rejected. ACAS must be your FIRST contact.
Modern Slavery — a different track
If your employer took your documents, threatened you or restricted your movements — this is Modern Slavery (NRM track), not ordinary wage theft. Call 0800 0 121 700.
Cash-in-hand is nearly impossible to recover
Without payslips and a contract, HMRC and Tribunal cannot trace the money. Record bank payments and messages NOW.

07 ACAS step by step

Call 0300 123 1100 — ask for a Russian interpreter. Describe your situation.
ACAS will offer Early Conciliation — a free mediator between you and your employer. Timeline: up to 6 weeks.
If the employer still does not pay — ACAS issues a Certificate. This gives you the right to go to Employment Tribunal.
Apply to Tribunal — online via gov.uk. Fee: £0 (abolished 2017). Legal Aid available for people on a low income.

The full process takes 3–6 months. ACAS is a mandatory first step before Tribunal.

08 Employment Tribunal

Deadline — 3 months from the last unpaid day. After that, the claim will not be accepted. ACAS must come first.

What Tribunal covers:

Non-payment of wages or partial payment
Non-payment of holiday pay
Unlawful deductions from wages
Breach of National Minimum Wage

Apply online: gov.uk/employment-tribunals

09 Who can recover wages through ACAS

Likely to work through ACAS

You had a written employment contract
You were paid through PAYE and have payslips
Fewer than 3 months have passed since your last wage
Your employer is still trading

Unlikely — a different route is needed

Cash-in-hand with no documents
More than 3 months have passed (Tribunal deadline expired)
Employer has closed or gone bankrupt
Work without RTW — a separate route via ATLEU (see the asylum-no-rtw guide)

Frequently asked questions

What to do if your employer does not pay your wages?

The first step is to call. For most people this is ACAS (0300 123 1100) or Work Rights Centre (0300 4000 100). It depends on your status — pick yours above. You do not need to go to your employer first, write letters or hire a lawyer — the call is free and anonymous.

How much can I get back?

It depends on your situation: at least £12.71 for each hour worked (National Minimum Wage 2026 for 21+), plus holiday pay. Claims usually cover the last 2 years. Exploitation cases can involve much larger sums.

Is this free?

Yes. ACAS, Work Rights Centre, ATLEU — all free for the worker. If the case goes to Employment Tribunal, Legal Aid is available for people on a low income. Calls are also free.

Will the Home Office find out about my call?

ACAS and Work Rights Centre do not share your data with the Home Office without your consent. ATLEU works under legal professional privilege (like a law firm). If you are worried about your status — pick your situation above for more details.

10 Lawyers

If the situation is complex (threats, document confiscation, immigration risk) — you need a lawyer, not just ACAS.

Lawyers with Legal Aid — free for low income
ATLEU — specialist in migrant labour exploitation
Work Rights Centre — advice on immigration risks

This is signposting, not legal advice. For personal advice contact an IAA-regulated lawyer.

Sources: ACAS Early Conciliation · Work Rights Centre · ATLEU · NMW rates gov.uk · Modern Slavery Act 2015

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