International Domestic Workers Day: We Demand our Rights as Workers! By Wendy Caballero

 My employer offered me a job to work with them as housekeeper and nanny to three children in the UK. They told me my life will turn into gold because there will be good opportunity for me. I wondered what does it mean?

I arrived in the UK last August 2018 via Heathrow Airport. My passport was given to me at the order to show to the officer but once I passed, my passport was taken again by my employer.

From the airport we went straight to Yorkshire. After a Month, I received my salary in Riyadh, it was the same as my salary n Riyadh 1,700 Saudi Riyal which is equivalent to £350 per Month. I was not given any money here in the UK. My employer would send my salary directly to my family in the Philippines. This Monthly salary was not enough to fulfil my dreams to have a decent life for my 3 children ages 16, 12 and 4 Years old. I couldn't afford to have a house and I worried a lot about my children education and future.
Sometimes I send the children of my employer to school everyday but  my every step was being timed 15 minutes by walk back and forth. I should arrived on time and if I missed the time, I would be scolded. I would wake-up at 6.30 in the morning to prepare breakfast, clean the house, laundry, cooking  take care of 3 children and I finished my work at 10 PM. I would wake-up whenever the children were awake. I had no day off and I didn't know how I managed to breath. I remember my employer told me about my life will be turn into gold here but with these hard work and long hours of work and received no money, how?

 One day, I relayed to someone about my situation when I picked-up the children at school who told me that my salary should be in accordance to UK law and that I should hold my documents. But I was too scared because I didn't know anything about my rights here. I also didn't know anyone here. It frightened me that if I complained, they will bring me back to Saudi Arabia and they would make my situation worst. But after few Months, I was shocked when police approached me if they could invite me to the police station. I asked why and what for? They said don't worry, they will just talk to me. They approached me nicely so I didn't hesitate to go with them. They asked me about my situation here, about my work and my employer's treatment towards me. Because they were police women, I was scared too so I had to tell them the truth about my bad work condition. I was worried of being late because I was being timed so I quickly went back home after I shared my problems.

On the following week, the police talked to me again, they let me talk to the coordinator of The Voice of Domestic Workers who told me not to be afraid, Marissa explained there are many domestic workers here like my situation because of the changes made in Overseas Domestic Worker Visa in 2012 when Government removed the rights of Migrant Domestic Workers and that The Voice of Domestic Workers (VODW) will support me.

On my third meeting with the Police they explained to me about National Referral Mechanism of Human Trafficking Law and that they will assess me and after 5 working Days the result came-out and I received positive Reasonable Ground. The police then contacted VODW and arranged my hand over to them. Police explained I needed a community so I'm not vulnerable and alone. 

The Voice of Domestic Workers hold their classes every Sunday in Unite the Union, Holborn. They have ESOL, IT Computer, Body, Mind and Wellness Workshop and eat together as family. VODW also offered legal referrals and employment advice, and health service through Doctors of the World.

Everything we need is provided by VODW including temporary emergency support to domestic workers like me who were exploited by employers.

Though I am not really ok because I don't know when is my Conclusive Ground NRM decision would be but I am lucky to have the privilege to help and support my fellow domestic workers though VODW. Since 2012, migrant domestic workers were unable to change employer which immediately tied domestic workers to employer and little has been achieved in the review of Modern Slavery Act in 2015. 

The right to change employer was re-instated in 2016 but this is useless without allowing migrant domestic workers to renew our visa because the time is so limited within 6 Months only, this still tied us to a system that doesn't allow us recourse to justice that we could claim our unpaid wages and enough time for us to find us job. We work in a family that required long-term working relationship especially if we are nannies or carer to elderly.

While modern Slavery Act and Trafficking Law are important to victims but these laws are no alternative to working rights that domestic workers deserved.

This year, the UK Government ratified the ILO C188 Work in Fishing Convention and for us it's been a long delayed for our Fishermen workers who couldn't set off their feet on UK's soil to finally shed light and get justice when this convention takes effect in 2020.  But I couldn't help to wonder when is the UK Government going to ratify ILO C189, Decent Work for Domestic Workers. Today, The Voice of Domestic Workers will celebrate ''Migrant Workers Day'' with other oragnisations, NGOs, Governments, Trade Unions and individuals in Tavistock Square Park London. For decades migrants and migrant domestic workers are denied with our rights and our contribution are not recognise.

7 Years on Tied Overseas Domestic Worker Visa, VODW continue to campaign and demand for the following;

1. Retain the special visa category for Overseas Domestic Workers. 2. Restore the rights of Migrant Domestic Workers to the pre-2012 system and end this form of modern slavery. In particular, allow Migrant Domestic Workers to re-new their work visa annually from the UK. 3. Allow Migrant Domestic Workers to build five continuous years of presence in the country, which will open rights to Indefinite Leave to Remain.