Migrant domestic workers know what works to address exploitation & enable access to workers rights. It’s time to listen to them & reinstate the rights on the ODW visa @voiceofdws.bsky.social @kalayaan.org.uk @focusonlabour.bsky.social
As Bluesky was down (for me at least), I did my rage posting in here instead: open.substack.com/pub/thoughts...
For 14 years, the UK’s restrictive Overseas Domestic Worker (ODW) visa regime has trapped migrants in a system that enables modern slavery behind closed doors.
We’re standing alongside migrant domestic workers to demand a visa that protects them 👇️
You are likely aware that the national minimum wage goes up today💵
But what if you were working on a remote farm having traveled from Uzbekistan for the first time?
Share this flyer to help seasonal workers know their rights on UK farms (RU version in link)
www.workrightscentre.org/publications...
The Home Office is currently consulting on removing accommodation and financial support from families who have been refused asylum, even if they've got nowhere else to go. But they won't tell anyone how many people they think will be impacted questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-ques...
As part of this coalition, we've released a new briefing on how to make the Fair Work Agency work for all workers. A key priority is to ensure that migrant workers feel safe enough to report abuse. A robust firewall allows them to do so without fear.
Read the briefing here! ⬇️
The Home Secretary has admitted their secretive policy demanding 'objective evidence' from potential trafficking or slavery victims was unlawful.
A credible personal account is enough under the law. This is an important win for victims of trafficking or slavery ✊
Bridging visas mean that workers whose immigration status is insecure or dependent on their employers can report exploitation without losing their immigration status. This is a cornerstone of being able to access rights
Govt's plans to double (or more) the length of time it takes for migrants to qualify for settlement in the UK risks exacerbating child poverty, according to new analysis by @ippr.org
Poverty will be prolonged for 60,000-90,000 children of foreign workers by 2029
www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/...
Congratulations from all of us at FLEX to Marissa. Its great to see Marissa's groundbreaking work for justice for migrant domestic workers at @voiceofdws.bsky.social be recognised by @bigissue.com
There is very unlikely to be anything to vote on. Changes will be implemented via the immigration rules - secondary legislation subject to negative procedure. People (especially MPs) need to understand this. The Home Secretary is operating unchecked.
Great to see opposition to the proposed settlement reforms.
In addition to moving the goal posts, proposals would lock people into decades of multiple dependencies on their employer, undermining the ambitions of the Employment Rights Act and Fair Work Agency
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
I don't know where this narrative of "permanent" refugee status came from (right wing press), but it is wrong. The change is from a single grant of five years' leave followed by the ability to apply for settlement
Today is the Mass Lobby for Migrant Rights. Hundreds are uniting in Parliament with one clear message for our MPs: scrap the earned settlement plans.
There has never been a more important moment to stand with migrants and refugees.
Support from home👉 www.praxis.org.uk/mass-lobby-s...
Beyond frustrating that the goal posts for migrant domestic workers on the UK’s ODW visa keep being moved. It is unclear what a further review will add to the host of evidence from domestic workers that the original visa mitigated risks & gave options to access rights @kalayaan.org.uk #IWD
The statement of changes to the immigration rules www.gov.uk/government/p... and the written statement (which goes wider than the rules changes) are now out questions-statements.parliament.uk/written-stat...
Having the right to work is of course very different to being compelled to work, possibly in restricted sectors/ circumstances which creates risks of exploitation #LiftTheBan
www.theguardian.com/politics/202...
Senior Policy Officer, Dr Sophie Cartwright, has written for @bordercrim.bsky.social about access to legal advice in detention.
JRS UK's research last year highlighted how difficult it was for people in immigration detention to access any legal support.
📖Read more: www.jrsuk.net/accessing-le...
Today's announcement that, after today, people seeking asylum in the UK will be kept in long-term limbo creates unreasonable hurdles against integration and recovery for people who have already lost so much.
It’s always brilliant to work with @voiceofdws.bsky.social & these recommendations for the Fair Work Agency are positive & practical & will help make sure the agency is relevant to & trusted by migrant domestic workers
With Valentine's Day approaching, we are shining a light on how visa systems strip away the right to family life from migrant workers, effectively commodifying people.
Migrant workers deserve the same right to enjoy love and family life as anyone else.
labourexploitation.org/news/valenti...
Labour’s sister party in Spain doing the right thing from a humanitarian perspective, a social cohesion perspective and an economic perspective….
But of course mainstream UK politicians are allergic to evidence-based policy on immigration.
New report released today:
"Politics over people?" - detailing how the UK’s “one in one out” knowingly harms and forcibly removes torture and trafficking survivors to France.
Read the report here medicaljustice.org.uk/politics-ove...
FLEX held an event in Parliament to launch our report, Unravelling the Nets, attended by politicians, regulators, retailers, producers and more.
The consensus was clear: the UK urgently needs a fishing visa, to stop the risks of labour exploitation via the transit loophole.
Our Policy Officer role closes on the 21 January; do please have a look/ share ahead of the weekend ⬇️
There is important learning here for the future Fair Work Agency. If people are prevented from reporting abuse and exploitation because of their immigration status, it’s obvious the exploitation will thrive ⬇️
Still time to apply to join @focusonlabour.bsky.social as a Policy Officer ⬇️
The last time I checked a couple of years ago, the Home Office cost recovery target on visa processing was 202%, but in the latest annual report it was 241% - meaning that for every £100 it costs to administer the visa system, the department aims to raise £241 in fees.
