In recent months, a total of 159 kebab shops in Britain have received Home Office licences that allow them to sponsor overseas workers under the skilled worker visa scheme. This initiative enables these businesses to recruit employees from abroad, with the added benefit that sponsored workers can often bring their family members to the UK. The data indicates that between 2021 and 2023, 56 of these kebab shops utilized their sponsorship licences to hire overseas workers, raising concerns about the nature of the roles being filled. For instance, Baba Kebabish in East Ham was allocated seven visas for positions classified under accommodation and food service activities during this period. Critics, including senior Conservatives and migration campaigners, have expressed their discontent with the scheme, arguing that it is being misused and is far removed from its original intent. Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp has labeled the arrangements as "a disgrace," emphasizing that many of the sponsored workers may not possess the high skill levels that the visa scheme was designed to attract. Conservative MP Neil O'Brien has also criticized the situation, calling it "absurd" and warning that a significant portion of the work may be linked to what he terms "fake-visa milling." The Centre for Migration Control has echoed these sentiments, suggesting that the sponsorship system is spiraling out of control. The range of businesses, including kebab shops, vape shops, and car washes, that are accessing the sponsorship scheme raises questions about whether these roles are genuinely skilled. This scrutiny comes in the wake of enforcement actions against employers who have been found to violate immigration rules, further complicating the narrative surrounding the visa system. In response to the growing criticism, the Government has defended the sponsorship system, asserting that it has implemented stricter regulations regarding work visas. Officials claim that over 100 occupations have been removed from eligibility lists in recent reforms aimed at curbing net migration. A Government spokesperson stated that record numbers of individuals abusing the immigration system are now being identified and removed, reinforcing the notion that the sponsorship licences are only granted after businesses demonstrate a legitimate need for overseas workers. Despite these assurances, the ongoing debate about the appropriateness of the scheme continues, highlighting the complexities of immigration policy in the UK.