December 11, 2025

Giving Voice to the Invisible: London Assembly Demands Restoration of Domestic Worker Rights

For thousands of migrant domestic workers in London, exploitation often occurs behind closed doors, with victims isolated by a restrictive visa. Their struggle reached the heart of London politics this week.
At the London Assembly plenary session on 4 December 2025, Members spoke with conviction about the urgent need to restore the original protections of the 1998 Overseas Domestic Worker (ODW) visa. This debate marks a vital milestone in Kalayaan’s long-standing advocacy.
Proposing the motion, Hina Bokhari AM stressed that domestic work is among the most invisible forms of labour, leaving workers isolated and at risk. “The current six-month tied visa prevents workers from escaping abuse and enforcing their rights,” she argued. Bassam Mahfouz AM referenced Kalayaan’s data showing rising exploitation since the visa was weakened in 2012, describing domestic workers as “one of the most vulnerable people in our country”, reaffirming support for Kalayaan’s work through MOPAC.
The motion passed with cross-party support from Hina Bokhari and Gareth Roberts (Liberal Democrats); Zoe Garbett and Caroline Russell (Greens); and Labour Members Bassam Mahfouz, Unmesh Desai, Marina Ahmad, Leonie Cooper, Len Duvall, Sem Moema, James Small-Edwards, Elly Baker, Anne Clarke, and Joanne McCartney. Conservative Members abstained. Alessandro Georgiou AM acknowledged the tied visa system is failing. Still, he argued restoration could create “loopholes”—a claim Hina Bokhari firmly rejected as unsupported by evidence, which instead points squarely to rising abuse.
Following the vote, we spoke with several supporting Assembly Members, including Unmesh Desai, Zoe Garbett, and Leonie Cooper, who reiterated their commitment to strengthening these vital protections.
This vote is a significant victory for advocacy. By formally endorsing the restoration of the original ODW visa and by requesting that the Mayor press the Prime Minister on this issue, the London Assembly has strengthened the political mandate for change and elevated the rights of migrant domestic workers onto the citywide agenda.
The call from City Hall is now clear. The question remains: will the government listen and act to protect these vulnerable workers?
Full motion https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-london-assembly-does/london-assembly-press-releases/assembly-calls-changes-domestic-worker-visa