Kalayaan is a charity for migrant domestic workers providing legal advice, practical support, political advocacy and a base for community campaigns. In solidarity with exploited migrant domestic workers we transform lives by giving access to justice and by working to change the structures that allow exploitation. Kalayaan has longstanding expertise in advising on and campaigning for the rights of migrant domestic workers.
Kalayaan is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1146596) and a registered company in England and Wales (no. 7968872). Kalayaan was formally established in 1987 by domestic workers and their supporters. At that time migrant domestic workers in the UK were not recognised within the immigration rules and were brought into the UK informally by their employers.
The only proof of the way they entered was usually a stamp in their passport which read ‘visa to work with..’ and which named the employer. There would be no issue with immigration while the worker remained with their employer but if they left (usually due to unpaid wages or poor treatment) there was no formal recognition of how they entered or their status in the UK leaving them in a vulnerable and precarious position.
Kalayaan is a registered charity in England and Wales (no. 1146596) and a registered company in England and Wales (no. 7968872). Kalayaan was formally established in 1987 by domestic workers and their supporters. At that time migrant domestic workers in the UK were not recognised within the immigration rules and were brought into the UK informally by their employers.
The only proof of the way they entered was usually a stamp in their passport which read ‘visa to work with..’ and which named the employer. There would be no issue with immigration while the worker remained with their employer but if they left (usually due to unpaid wages or poor treatment) there was no formal recognition of how they entered or their status in the UK leaving them in a vulnerable and precarious position.
