Anti-Slavery - Campaign - Action on trafficking, forced labour and exploitation of migrant domestic workers in the UK

Take action on trafficking, forced labour and exploitation of migrant domestic workers in the UK

Evidence collected over the past decade shows that migrant domestic workers in the UK are regularly subjected to abuse, exploitation and forced labour. Anti-Slavery International's 2006 research on forced labour in UK documented trafficking in a variety of industries, including domestic work.

Despite this, the UK government has proposed changes to a 1998 immigration rule which would prevent migrant domestic workers from changing employers even if they are subject to abusive practices. Anti-Slavery International firmly believes that these proposals would increase the number of migrant domestic workers who are subjected to trafficking, forced labour and other forms of exploitation.

Click here to read the background information on this country action.

Please act now by writing to the British Prime Minister, Gordon Brown MP, urging the Government to retain the 1998 immigration rule and the protections that it affords to migrant domestic workers in the UK.

Go to the Prime Minister's website where you can submit your email. Use the text below as a basis for your emails, although adapting it in your own words will have more of an impact.

If you are in the UK, please also write to your Member of Parliament and ask him or her to sign Early Day Motion 992, which urges the Government to drop the proposals and retain the current provisions. An Early Day Motion (EDM) operates like a petition for MPs.

You can email your MP from Parliament's website or from the website www.theyworkforyou.com.

It is also very effective to send a letter to your MP. You can write to your MP at the following address:
your MP's name MP
House of Commons
London SW1A 0AA
United Kingdom

Thank you for your help.

Dear Prime Minister

Evidence collected by Anti-Slavery International and other organisations over the last decade shows that migrant domestic workers in the UK are regularly subjected to abuse, exploitation and forced labour. Of the 340 migrant domestic workers registered with Kalayaan, a charity which works with migrant domestic workers in the UK, in the period April 2006 and March 2007, just under a quarter reported instances of physical abuse, with the figure rising to 69 per cent for those reporting psychological abuse. Over 60 per cent reported that they were not allowed out of the house without the permission of their employer.

The 1998 immigration rule, introduced by the Labour Government, provides migrant domestic workers with one year renewable visas and allows them to seek work with another employer if they wish. They do not have recourse to public funds and can only have their visa extended if they are in full time employment. The rule is widely recognised to have assisted in helping migrant domestic workers escape from exploitative and abusive situations.

Despite this your Government is now proposing to revoke these protections and limit migrant domestic workers to a six month non-renewable visa; not allow them to change employers even if they are subject to abusive practices; and remove them from the protection of employment laws by categorising them as domestic "assistants" rather than recognising them as workers.

I am extremely concerned by these proposals which will increase the number of migrant domestic workers who are subjected to trafficking, forced labour and exploitation. I strongly urge your Government to drop the proposed changes and retain the protections that the 1998 immigration rule affords to migrant domestic workers in the UK.

Your sincerely

(your name)