Hundreds of migrant domestic workers in Britain are to rally outside the parliament to protest the changes to limitations imposed on workers' visas that campaigners say amount to “slavery.”
Campaign group, Justice for Migrant Domestic Workers, said the new regulations that would see migrants lose their immigrant visas in case of any job change or change of household where they work are a “return to slavery.”
The group said a rally will be held at Old Palace Yard opposite House of Lords in London to convey the message to the peers that “Domestic Workers are not slaves, maids, servants or family members, we are workers.”
The campaign group is supported by Unite the union and charity Kalayaan, which offers advice and support to domestic workers.
Kalayaan said the government's “consultation” on migrant domestic workers is a source of “serious concern.”
“[We] have some serious concerns about the Government's proposals for migrant domestic workers. Removing the right to change employer will increase trafficking, abuse and exploitation,” said Jenny Moss, community advocate at Kalayaan.
The charity added in a meeting at Unite's venue in London “there was unanimous agreement that the changes as proposed would be a disaster and a return to slavery.”
It said the current visa conditions are "a vitally important safeguard for some of the most vulnerable and isolated workers.”
Moss also dismissed the government's justification that the plans are part of an initiative to cut net migration level to tens of thousands by 2015, saying the proposals do not “significantly contribute” to that objective.
Meanwhile, Marissa Begonia, from Justice 4 Domestic Workers told the BBC that the new plans would turn the workers into de facto slaves.
"The right to change employer is very important to us... it saves lives, especially for those domestic workers who are being sexually abused, who have been beaten, who have been asked to work for 24 hours,” Begonia said.
