bonded servants?

Hundreds of migrant domestic workers are expected to demonstrate outside Parliament against proposed changes to their UK visa conditions. Migrant workers entering the UK on Overseas Domestic Worker visas include chauffeurs, gardeners, cooks and nannies. Current rules allow them to change jobs and move to a different household without losing their immigrant status. The Justice 4 Domestic Workers campaign says plans to end the right will leave staff open to abuse or exploitation.

Marissa Begonia, from Justice 4 Domestic Workers, told the BBC: "The right to change employer is very important to us... it saves lives, especially for those domestic workers who are being sexually abused, who have been beaten, who have been asked to work for 24 hours....That is not work, that is slavery."

Kalayaan, which offers domestic staff advice and support, said the existing visa provided "a vitally important safeguard for some of the most vulnerable and isolated workers". Jenny Moss, community advocate at Kalayaan, said: "Removing the vital protections associated with the domestic worker visa will undoubtedly lead to an increase in abuse, exploitation and human trafficking."