With the Employment Rights Bill going through Parliament, we have an opportunity to turn the tide on the rampant labour exploitation that migrant workers face in this country.

Our latest video highlights the problems caused by restrictive visa systems, and the solutions to them:

UN Committee criticises UK restrictive visa scheme

The UN Committee on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights has joined in our criticisms of restrictive visa schemes, calling on the government to take concrete steps to protect workers and tackle exploitation.

Writing in their concluding recommendations, the Committee said:

‘Ensure that migrant workers enjoy equal rights to other workers, in law and practice, in terms of wages, job security, rest and leisure, social security and trade union membership, and eliminate exploitative practices affecting migrant workers, particularly workers under such work visa arrangements as the Health and Care Worker, Overseas Domestic Worker and Seasonal Worker visa schemes, by banning recruitment fees, lifting restrictions on changing employers, extending wage protections, protecting workers who report abuse and guaranteeing access to inspection and reporting mechanisms, including interpretation services and legal aid.’

This is directly in line with what we at FLEX have been arguing, alongside so many others in the field. From basic morality to international obligation, the case for change is clear – the duty is on government to act.

Thank you to our partners at Hope for Justice and Kalayaan for working with us on the joint submission.

Read the full report here.

In Case You Missed It: Letter – Calling on Labour Market Enforcement and a future Fair Work Agency to address labour exploitation in fishing

currently excluded from accessing some of the most basic protections available under UK employment law. This drives down employment standards in fishing and, combined with a lack of proactive monitoring and labour market enforcement, creates significant risks of exploitation and abuse.

This letter was written to ensure that UK fishing is included within the remit of the Fair Work Agency, and to work with decision-makers to ensure that this issue finally gets the attention and action that is so sorely needed.