December 9, 2015

London Assembly votes to release migrant workers from tied-visas

On the 2nd of December 2015, The London Assembly today called for the Mayor of London to write to the Home Secretary, Theresa May, and make the case to repeal the tied-visa system.

Introduced in 2012, the tied-visa system, attaches domestic workers to their employers.

Assembly Members agreed a unanimous motion calling for the protection of domestic workers, who are particularly vulnerable to exploitation.

Murad Qureshi AM, who proposed the motion said:

“With migrant domestic workers at risk of low pay, mental and physical abuse, and trafficking, we need urgent action to deliver protection and justice for those on the receiving end.

Even with greater efforts to check on the welfare of migrant workers, tied-visas can be a huge barrier to justice and a catalyst for modern day slavery.”

Andrew Boff AM, who seconded the motion said:

“In making changes to the domestic workers’ visa, the Government has actually become complicit in the slavery of domestic workers.

I don’t think that is the intention, but the result is the effective licensing of modern day slavery. It needs to change.”

To read the full text of the motion and the London Assembly’s press release see here