Migrant domestic workers have been the most vulnerable lot in the world, no matter whether the job destination is a developed or a developing country. Half of the migrant domestic workers in the United Kingdom have suffered from exploitation, a report said. 

According to rights-based organisations Justice for Domestic Workers and Kalayaan, about 21 per cent migrant domestic workers have been kept as forced labour as their employer holds their passports. Similarly, 55 per cent of them do not have a day-off facility. 

The report reveals that of the total reported cases of abuse between 5 April, 2012 and 4 April, 2013, 37 per cent have suffered from psychological abuse from their employers, while 13 per cent faced physical abuse. About 55 per cent domestic workers said that they were locked up in the house when their employers were out for work, it said. 

About 41 per cent households do not have a separate boarding facility for migrant domestic workers. They either sleep in the children’s room or public places. 

According to the report, migrant domestic workers have become more vulnerable after the UK government revoked the most basic rights and protection for migrant domestic workers — workers who have entered the UK accompanying employers to work in their private households — in April last year. 

The UK government scrapped the special residence permit which gave people working in private households a degree of protection against exploitation and abuse. Under the new provision of Overseas Domestic Workers, migrant domestic workers are not allowed to shift to another work. 

This change made employers more powerful and the sufferings of migrant domestic workers multiplied, said coordinator of Justice for Domestic Workers Marissa Begonia. 

About 1.5 million domestic workers have been working in private and diplomatic households, many of whom are migrants from Asia and Africa. Most of them come to the UK from the Philippines, India, Indonesia, Morocco and Nigeria.

Published on: 8 April 2013 | The Himalayan Times