The Rt. Hon Theresa May
Secretary of State
Home Office
2 Marsham St
London
SW1 4DF

08 September 2011

Dear Theresa,
I am writing further lobbying from constituents about the Overseas Domestic Worker (ODW) visa. I share widespread fears about Home Office proposals to abolish the ODW in favour of a 6-month visit visa, outlined in the employment-related settlement consultation. In particular, I believe that implementation of this proposal, which removes employment rights and the right to change employers from domestic workers from overseas, will increase the risk of both exploitation and trafficking.
Research shows that domestic workers are highly vulnerable to exploitation. 54% of domestic workers are subjected to psychological abuse, 49% are not given their own room and 67% are not given any time off. 18% of domestic workers experience physical abuse, and 3% sexual abuse. The employment-related settlement consultation itself recognises the fact that ‘there can be serious problems associated with the treatment of people working for others in a domestic capacity'. Proposals to abandon the current ODW visa route in favour of visitor visas would mean relying on the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) for protection from abuse and exploitation. I do not believe this is sufficient. Moreover, the ODW visa has been proved effective on more than one occasion. The Home Affairs Select Committee enquiry on trafficking judged it ‘the single most important issue in preventing the forced labour and trafficking of such workers,' and it has been recognised internationally by, among others, the International Labour Organisation. The NRM, by comparison, has been widely criticised by organisations who believe that it fails to meet the UK's obligations under the Trafficking Convention. In addition, it fails to offer protection for those migrant domestic workers who are abused and exploited but not, technically, trafficked.
The Home Office's plans seem to have been made on the basis that low-skilled entry into the UK must be restricted. However, research shows that the number of workers seeking to enter the UK via the current visa route has remained steady across time. Moreover, 94% of domestic workers return home with their employer within the term of their first ODW visa, showing that new proposals will not significantly reduce net migration.

I, therefore, urge you to do whatever you can to retain the ODW visa route, which, crucially, allows workers the right to change employer. Revoking the protections offered by the current system and limiting migrant domestic workers to a six or twelve month non renewable visa threatens to drive the problem underground, creating an underclass of vulnerable migrants. The ODW visa is vital if we are to prevent abuse, allow an escape route for abused workers, and keep them visible to the UK authorities. I look forward to your early response.

Yours sincerely,

Caroline Lucas, MP, Brighton Pavilion

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