Migrant Domestic Workers who work for wealthy families in the UK are currently allowed to change employers without breaking the law so long as they continue working full-time as a domestic worker in a private household.
Under proposed changes to the immigration rules in the UK, migrant domestic workers will lose this right to change employers. They will be brought to the UK on a 6 month long 'business visitors visa' which will be non renewable and not permit them to change employers even if they are abused in their employment. Kalayaan, a UK charity which works with migrant domestic workers, is campaigning against the proposed changes which will in practice make it impossible for migrant domestic workers to challenge abuse or to access UK employment law.
On 25 June 2008 migrant domestic workers and campaigning organizations such as Kalayaan and Unite won a huge success. The UK government announced that it committed to the continued protection of this group of workers and would not proceed with plans to end the domestic worker visa and with it the rights of this group of workers to change employers, which allows them to escape abuse.
Famous quotes containing the words migrant, domestic and/or workers:
“As soon as the harvest is in, you’re a migrant worker. Afterwards just a bum.”
—Nunnally Johnson (1897–1977)
“Free from public debt, at peace with all the world, and with no complicated interests to consult in our intercourse with foreign powers, the present may be hailed as the epoch in our history the most favorable for the settlement of those principles in our domestic policy which shall be best calculated to give stability to our Republic and secure the blessings of freedom to our citizens.”
—Andrew Jackson (1767–1845)
“In former times and in less complex societies, children could find their way into the adult world by watching workers and perhaps giving them a hand; by lingering at the general store long enough to chat with, and overhear conversations of, adults...; by sharing and participating in the tasks of family and community that were necessary to survival. They were in, and of, the adult world while yet sensing themselves apart as children.”
—Dorothy H. Cohen (20th century)