Migrant domestic workers rally to prevent a return to domestic slavery in the UK

2 September 2011

WHEN: Sunday 4 September 2011, 11am
WHERE: Old Palace Yard, Westminster, SW1

Hundreds of migrant domestic workers will be gathering in Old Palace Yard, Westminster on Sunday 4 September to demonstrate against the government's proposed changes to the domestic workers' visa.

The UK government has proposed to change the domestic workers' visa and remove some of the most fundamental rights of migrant domestic workers which could leave them vulnerable to abuse, exploitation and human trafficking.

At present migrant domestic workers have some protections. They are allowed to change their employer without losing their immigration status, meaning if they are mistreated, they can leave and find new non-exploitative work to support their families. They can seek justice through the police or the employment courts without fearing they will be removed from the UK.

If these rights are removed, unscrupulous employers will know they can abuse and exploit with impunity.

Justice 4 Domestic Workers, the domestic worker led group organising the rally, and supported by Kalayaan and Unite the union in demanding that the UK government does not return slavery to the UK and that:

Domestic worker visa rights are retained, including the right to change employer and recognition as a worker covered by employment legislation;

Those who come to the UK with diplomats have these same rights;

The UK government ratifies and implements the International Labour Convention on domestic workers

Marissa Begonia, chair of Justice 4 Domestic Workers, said: “Where are we heading if the minimal protection we have is about to be removed, back to the century of slavery? The domestic worker visa has been our escape route from abusive employers and enabled us to rebuild our lives from this exploitative situation. The UK government acknowledged the need to protect migrant domestic workers in 1998 and implemented the domestic workers' visa. Why take back what is proven as the best protection of some of the most vulnerable workers?

“We urge the government to uphold the honour and dignity of the United Kingdom and improve the current working and living conditions of domestic workers. The more vulnerable the worker is, the more protection they need.”

Jenny Moss, community advocate at Kalayaan, said: “Removing the vital protections associated with the domestic worker visa will undoubtedly lead to an increase in abuse, exploitation and human trafficking. It is shameful that the UK government intends to return us to slavery for the sake of knocking 1,000 people from their net migration total.

“Government proposals should be urgently rethought and it ought to work with migrant domestic workers and Kalayaan to improve protections for this very vulnerable group rather than remove them.”

Diana Holland, Unite assistant general secretary, said: “The domestic worker visa was introduced with all-party support to right a very serious wrong. It is horrifying to contemplate a return to the slavery and bonded labour before the visa. This government cannot brush the issue of slavery under the carpet.

“The government must stop the threat to make the most vulnerable even more vulnerable. They only way to ensure migrant domestic workers are treated with dignity and respect is by keeping the domestic worker visa as it is.”

ENDS

For more information please contact Jenny Moss at Kalayaan on 020 7243 2942 / 07725 082463 or email jenny@kalayaan.org.uk, or contact Ashraf Choudhury in the Unite Press Office on 020 3371 2061 or 07980 224761.

Notes for editors:

Figures on domestic workers

Approximately 15,000 domestic workers come to the UK each year. Most stay only a short time and leave again with their employer. 6 per cent stay and renew their visas.

Domestic workers in the employ of diplomats are more vulnerable to trafficking for forced labour. Approximately 3.8 percent of the domestic workers who arrived with diplomats were referred to the government as trafficked persons in comparison with 0.2 percent of those in private households.

Kalayaan believes this additional vulnerability is owed to the restrictive nature of their immigration status which does not allow them to change their employer without losing their immigration status and becoming undocumented. This in turn prevents them from seeking justice and redress if they have left as they are fearful of the authorities. If the domestic worker visa or the rights associated with it were removed, this situation would apply to all domestic workers.

Justice 4 Domestic Workers

Justice 4 Domestic Workers (J4DW) is a domestic worker led group formed in 2009 affiliated with Unite the union. It has more than 500 members from different countries, mainly Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Morocco and Nigeria.

J4DW is campaigning for the retention of the domestic worker visa and for the government to sign and ratify ILO Convention 189 “Decent work for domestic workers”. The ILO convention was passed in June 2011. The UK government, having committed to supporting a convention 'in principle' refused to vote to pass the convention. The government abstained along with the Sudan, El Salvador and Malaysia. The only other EU country to abstain was the Czech Republic.

Kalayaan

Kalayaan is a registered charity (no. 1103847). It gives advice and practical support to migrant domestic workers and campaigns with them to improve their rights. Kalayaan was established in 1987. http://www.kalayaan.org.uk/

Unite the union

Unite is Britain and Ireland's largest trade union, which has represented migrant domestic workers as members since it was established, and going back more than 20 years in the T&G - which merged with Amicus to form Unite.

The union was central to the campaign to establish the overseas domestic workers visa in 1998, and the achievement of the ILO Domestic workers convention in 2011.

Unite opposes a return to the slavery and bonded labour faced by migrant domestic workers before the visa was introduced, and supports justice for domestic workers as a central part of its support for justice for all workers.

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