Trafficking and forced labour of migrant domestic workers in the UK

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

Of the 340 migrant domestic workers registered with Kalayaan in the period April 2006 - March 2007, just under a quarter reported instances of physical abuse such as being beaten or slapped, things thrown at them, spitting in their face and pulling their hair, and nine per cent reported sexual abuse. The figure rises to 69 per cent for those reporting psychological abuse, including shouting, insults, and threats to throw them out or have them deported. Nearly two thirds of the domestic workers said they were not allowed out of the house without their employer's permission and nearly one third had their passports taken from them and kept by their employer. Two thirds of the domestic workers reported working 16 or more hours per day, seven days a week with no meal breaks.

Many migrant domestic workers come under the legal definition of trafficked people as set out in the Asylum and Immigration (Treatment of Claimants, etc.) Act 2004, which makes trafficking for all forms of labour exploitation a criminal offence. However, there has not been a single successful prosecution since the Act was passed.

Current protections for migrant domestic workers

Under a 1998 immigration rule introduced by the current Government, migrant domestic workers are issued with one year renewable visas and can seek work with another employer if they wish. This followed years of campaigning by migrant domestic workers together with Kalayaan, and other organisations including Anti-Slavery International. Under the terms of this visa, migrant domestic workers do not have recourse to public funds and can only have their visa extended if they are in full-time employment.

These rights have been extremely important in facilitating the escape of migrant domestic workers from exploitative and abusive situations. This is because they can come forward and receive support and assistance knowing that they can still seek work with another employer and thereby will not put their livelihood at risk.

The Government recently acknowledged that the 1998 rule has been positive in reducing abuse and exploitation. Baroness Scotland noted on 26 March 2007 that the Government is "conscious that the changes we brought in greatly benefited domestic workers in this situation."

Protections threatened by Government proposals

The Home Office is now proposing to change the 1998 rule and give migrant domestic workers only a six month non-renewable visa and not to allow them to change employers even if they are subject to abusive practices. Furthermore, migrant domestic workers would not be recognised as workers, but rather as domestic "assistants" and consequently would not enjoy protection under employment laws.

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.

Migrant domestic workers' stories

At the end of 2006, Kalayaan assisted a migrant domestic worker from India. She had been raped by her employer, who threw her out of the house afterwards. She received assistance and support through Kalayaan, and filed a case with the police. Eventually she was able to resume work with a new family. Under the new proposals, she would not have been able to seek police assistance without facing removal from the UK. In her case, as with many migrant domestic workers, had she been removed from the UK she would have been returned to India with the debts that she incurred from taking up a job abroad.

Another migrant domestic worker from the Philippines told Kalayaan that she typically worked from 7.30am to 1.30am, seven days a week. She was paid only US$250 per month and was often subjected to verbal insults and intimidation by her employer, who retained her passport. She felt her only option was to run away. Kalayaan provided support and liaised with the police, retrieved her passport, and helped her find alternative work. Under the new rules, she would have either had to endure the exploitative working conditions, return to her country, or become an irregular worker.

What is trafficking?

Trafficking involves transporting people away from the communities in which they live, through the use of violence, deception or coercion for the purpose of their exploitation. When children are trafficked, no violence, deception or coercion needs to be involved: simply transporting them into exploitative conditions constitutes trafficking.

Because of its hidden nature, accurate statistics on the numbers involved across the world are hard to come by. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that at any one time at least 2.4 million people have been trafficked and are being subjected to sexual or labour exploitation.

Click here to take action on forced labour and exploitation of migrant domestic workers in the UK now.