Picked up on this issue on the Oxfam website. It would appear the government are planning to bring in changes which will make it impossible for migrant domestic workers who are brought to the country by their "employers" to seek help or to leave when they suffer abuse. In my view this amounts to slavery, supported by our wonderful government.
Domestic workers...come to the UK with their rich employers, from countries such as India, Sri Lanka, or the Philippines. The majority of the workers are women. Most are exploited and badly treated by their employers; many are sexually and physically abused.
At the moment these workers come to the UK under a domestic worker visa. This gives them legal status as workers: they are protected by UK employment laws, and can leave an abusive employer and get another job in a private household if they need to.
The government is planning to abolish the domestic worker visa, and instead register migrant domestic workers as ‘visitors’. No longer workers, they will effectively be bonded labourers, many forced to work in conditions akin to slavery. Leaving an abusive situation to find another job will no longer be an option.
At the moment these workers come to the UK under a domestic worker visa. This gives them legal status as workers: they are protected by UK employment laws, and can leave an abusive employer and get another job in a private household if they need to.
The government is planning to abolish the domestic worker visa, and instead register migrant domestic workers as ‘visitors’. No longer workers, they will effectively be bonded labourers, many forced to work in conditions akin to slavery. Leaving an abusive situation to find another job will no longer be an option.
Consider it a miracle if you had a workstation/desk/network access etc in the first week.
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