YOUR ADDRESS

XXXXXX

XXXXXXX MP

House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

XXXDATE

Dear XXXX MP,

Maintaining basic protection for migrant domestic workers in the UK

Migrant domestic workers are people who are brought to the UK by an employer to work in their private household. Unfortunately, the power discrepancies between the employer and the domestic worker they employ combined with the isolated nature of work in a private household means that migrant domestic workers (MDWs) are particularly vulnerable to abuse.

Kalayaan, a UK registered charity which works with migrant domestic workers in the UKregistered 340 new MDWs at their centre between April 06 and March 07. Of these 68% had no time off at all and 32% had their passports taken from them by their employers. 24% had been physically abused and 69% had been psychologically abused by their employers.

In 1998, in recognition of the particular vulnerability of MDWs in the UK and documented abuse by employers, the government changed the immigration rules for MDWs, granting them the right to change employers. Although abuse still occurs MDWs can currently leave their employer without becoming undocumented, providing they remain working full time as a domestic worker in a private household.

Less than ten years after changing the law to protect MDWs the government has announced new proposals as part of their overhaul of the UK migration system in order to “Make Migration Work for Britain”. These include removing the right to chance employers, leaving MDWs who are abused with the stark choice of suffering in silence or escaping into illegality, and that MDWs will enter as ‘domestic assistants’ rather than workers so losing recognition as workers with any protection under UK employment law.

If implemented these proposals will remove even the most basic of employment rights for MDWs, leaving them powerless against exploitation by abusive employers so effectively legalising trafficking. This is a reversal of policy implemented to protect MDWs and is in direct contravention to the Home Office stated policy stop human trafficking.

As my MP I would be grateful if you would contactLiam Byrne, the minister responsible for the proposed changes, raise my concerns with him and ask him how he can justify the proposed changes given that they will greatly increase the abuse of this already vulnerable category of workers by their employers. Please ask for his assurance that MDWs will continue to be recognised as workers and retain their current rights ensuring protection under UK employment law.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Yours sincerely,

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX