February 6, 2015

Amendment tabled to ensure migrant domestic workers are protected by Modern Slavery Bill

Lord Hylton has tabled an important amendment to the Modern Slavery Bill which if passed at Report Stage would do a huge amount to protect migrant domestic workers against abuse and would close the gap in protections currently in the Bill. The amendment has received support from across the house with Baroness Royall of Blaisdon (Labour), The Lord Bishop of Carlisle and Baroness Hanham (Conservative) having added their names as signatories to the Bill.

After Clause 51
LORD HYLTON
BARONESS ROYALL OF BLAISDON
THE LORD BISHOP OF CARLISLE
BARONESS HANHAM

Insert the following new Clause—

“Protection from slavery for overseas domestic workers

All overseas domestic workers in the United Kingdom, including those
working for staff of diplomatic missions, shall be entitled to—

(a) change their employer (but not work sector) while in the United
Kingdom;

(b) renew their domestic worker or diplomatic domestic worker visa,
each such renewal being for a period not exceeding twelve months,
as long as they remain in employment and are able to support
themselves without recourse to public funds;

(c) a three month temporary visa permitting them to live in the United
Kingdom for the purposes of seeking alternative employment as an
overseas domestic worker where there is evidence that the worker
has been a victim of modern slavery.”

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/bills/lbill/2014-2015/0069/amend/am069-f.htm