Read the subtle meanings in the analysis of a "caregiver" - the professional name for a "maid" in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
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Our non-profit blog was inspired by a Filipina domestic from the Middle East who left her newborn baby – with placenta still attached – at the Bahrain Gulf Air airplane toilet - upon landing in Manila, read her story here http://filipina-nannies-caregivers.blogspot.ca/2013/05/this-blog-was-inspired-by-filipina.htm . Her despair and desperation inspired this blog to gather all possible stories in order to help, to inform and to empower all Filipina nannies, caregivers and maids -- to liberate themselves from abuses of all forms: physical, rape, verbal, exploitation, overtime working without pay.... Send us your stories. Stay anonymous - if you like. (No one can afford to deny this matter anymore). Write in Tagalog, or your dialect, or English, or French, or any language. ALL nannies, caregivers and domestic maids are welcome, send your stories to mangococonutmay1@gmail.com
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The Return to Victorian-Era Slavery for UK Domestic Workers
A Filipina maid won major victory in her case for unlawful dismissal from her employer, a Greek Princess, in London, England.
A Filipina maid won major victory in her case for unlawful dismissal from her employer, a Greek Princess, in London, England.
Pinay maid wins case vs royal employer in UK
Posted at 12/02/2010 2:37 PM | Updated as of 12/03/2010 11:55 AM
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/12/02/10/pinay-maid-wins-case-vs-royal-employer-uk
http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/global-filipino/12/02/10/pinay-maid-wins-case-vs-royal-employer-uk
The case of Susana Danio of Pangasinan captured headlines in many British newspapers.
Danio was one of 3 Filipina maids unfairly sacked by their big-time employer for alleged rude behavior and numerous cases of theft.
Danio’s former employer is London-born Princess Marie Chantal, heiress daughter of US Duty Free billionaire, Robert Miller.
Chantal is related to the British Royal family through her marriage to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
Danio took her case to court through the employment tribunal, despite the absence of a lawyer.
She admitted having received some legal advice from a British friend.
After months of litigation, Danio won her case, and the court ordered Chantal to pay her 7,500 British pounds, or more than P500,000.
A high school graduate, Danio has no misgivings against her employer, who, she said, was only
“brainwashed” by her senior staff due to plain jealousy.For Danio, her royal employer, through her lawyer, eventually admitted in court to being guilty of unfair dismissal.
Chantal owns a chain of children’s fashion boutiques called Marie-Chantal with outlets in London, Paris and New York.
Meanwhile, Danio’s co-worker Celeste Dedala is also hoping to receive a separate pay-check in relation to the illegal dismissal case.
http://www.spot.ph/sale-alerts/47088/pinay-maid-wins-case-against-princess-in-uk-paid-almost-7500-in-compensation
Pinay maid wins case against Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and P500K in compensation
Susana Danio, a Filipina maid from Pangasinan, recently won a legal battle in the United Kingdom over being unfairly dismissed by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, reports ABS-CBNNews.com. The London-born princess, heiress daughter of US duty-free billionaire Robert Miller, was ordered to pay Danio almost £7,500 (about P500,000).
Danio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
- See more at: http://www.spot.ph/sale-alerts/47088/pinay-maid-wins-case-against-princess-in-uk-paid-almost-7500-in-compensation#sthash.x03LVcUI.dpufDanio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
Pinay maid wins case against Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and P500K in compensation
Susana Danio, a Filipina maid from Pangasinan, recently won a legal battle in the United Kingdom over being unfairly dismissed by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, reports ABS-CBNNews.com. The London-born princess, heiress daughter of US duty-free billionaire Robert Miller, was ordered to pay Danio almost £7,500 (about P500,000).
Danio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
- See more at: http://www.spot.ph/sale-alerts/47088/pinay-maid-wins-case-against-princess-in-uk-paid-almost-7500-in-compensation#sthash.x03LVcUI.dpufDanio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
Pinay maid wins case against Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and P500K in compensation
Susana Danio, a Filipina maid from Pangasinan, recently won a legal battle in the United Kingdom over being unfairly dismissed by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, reports ABS-CBNNews.com. The London-born princess, heiress daughter of US duty-free billionaire Robert Miller, was ordered to pay Danio almost £7,500 (about P500,000).
Danio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
- See more at: http://www.spot.ph/sale-alerts/47088/pinay-maid-wins-case-against-princess-in-uk-paid-almost-7500-in-compensation#sthash.x03LVcUI.dpufDanio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
Filipino maid wins case vs European princess
http://www.allvoices.com/contributed-news/7507309-filipino-maid-wins-case-vs-european-princess
A Filipino domestic worker in London won a legal battle against a princess in Europe, according to ABS-CBN's Europe News Bureau.
Susan Danio, is one of 3 Filipino maids who were illegally dismissed by employer Marie Chantal in April of this year due to alleged "rude behavior" and theft.
Chantal is daughter of a US duty-free billionaire, and married to Greece's Prince Pavlos.
Believing that she is innocent, Danio filed a case to employment tribunal even though she had no lawyer, but admitted she received legal advices from undisclosed sources.
Danio won the case and was rewarded with £7,500 (PhP514,000 or US$11,700).
The Filipino maid holds no hurt feelings towards her previous employer whom she thinks only listened to the senior staff who were envious.
Danio said, "This is for her also...So that she won't easily listen to the people who surround her."
The Filipina said that the very kind Princess Marie admitted the unfair dismissal through her lawyer.
The princess owns fashion boutiques in London, New York and Paris.
Danio adds, "I cannot say anything against her because she has never treated me badly."
Danio's co-worker, Celeste Dedala, hopes to receive the same reward for her illegal dismissal case.
Watch the video here.
Susan Danio, is one of 3 Filipino maids who were illegally dismissed by employer Marie Chantal in April of this year due to alleged "rude behavior" and theft.
Chantal is daughter of a US duty-free billionaire, and married to Greece's Prince Pavlos.
Believing that she is innocent, Danio filed a case to employment tribunal even though she had no lawyer, but admitted she received legal advices from undisclosed sources.
Danio won the case and was rewarded with £7,500 (PhP514,000 or US$11,700).
The Filipino maid holds no hurt feelings towards her previous employer whom she thinks only listened to the senior staff who were envious.
Danio said, "This is for her also...So that she won't easily listen to the people who surround her."
The Filipina said that the very kind Princess Marie admitted the unfair dismissal through her lawyer.
The princess owns fashion boutiques in London, New York and Paris.
Danio adds, "I cannot say anything against her because she has never treated me badly."
Danio's co-worker, Celeste Dedala, hopes to receive the same reward for her illegal dismissal case.
Watch the video here.
FILIPINO MAID IN LONDON WINS CASE AGAINST HER EMPLOYER
Jan 13, 2013
Pangasinan,Philippines
Susana Danio,A Filipino maid in London wins the case filed against her employer. Susana was one of the three maids that were fired last April by her employer Marie Chantal,daughter of a US-duty-free billionaire who is married to Prince Pavios of Greece. Susana's employer Princess Marie admitted that it was an unfair dismissal for Danio.
Susana is thankful that she was able to get legal advises for free although she doesn't have a lawyer she was able to get fair trial and was paid 7500 pounds equivalent to 500,000 pesos.
She also added that she will never give false accusation to her employer since she has been kind to her,she believed that her employer was just incited by her senior staff to fire the maids.
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Justice for Domestic Workers
The self–help group for migrant domestic workers
http://www.j4dw.org/
Justice for Domestic Workers (J4DW) was established on March 15, 2009. It is an organisation of migrant domestic workers who work in private houses in the UK.
This is our website about the problems and injustices we face, and our struggle against legislation that would make our lives even harder. It is our voice. Thank you for listening.
Latest news
One Year On: the Return to Victorian-Era Slavery for UK Domestic Workers
By Marissa Begonia. Published in London on 7th April 2013.
I am sitting on the floor by the right hand corner of the Natural History Museum. I have been here quite a few times and stood in the long queue for hours outside. This time though it is special because I am with my fellow migrant domestic workers (MDWs) on a trip as one of our educational activities organised by members of Justice for Domestic workers (J4DW).As I sit and look at the gigantic dinosaur skeleton towering over us, I imagine it roaring like the employers who shout and hurl abuse at us in their attempt to frighten myself and my fellow MDWs. For a moment, inside the museum, I just feel like sitting down in a corner and never queuing again. Then I hear our group, enjoying themselves. I feel strong, enthusiastic and positive again. Behind their beautiful smiles are their own struggles, some of them are safe (MDWs under the old system) and some are not (MDWs under the new system). As I wave my hand and smile at them, “go on, I’ll wait here!” I take out my notebook and pen and begin to write. Full article.Our campaigning
Community organising is central to who we are and what we do. We are the only organisation that is run for and by domestic workers. We believe that in order to secure our rights we must educate and mobilise ourselves and build links with those who can support us. Learn more about our campaigns.
Who we are
We are mainly women, though we do have men who are members. We come from the countries of Asia and Africa including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and others. Some of us had to escape from abusive employers, it was our only means of surviving. Finding one another and sharing our experiences is our great refuge. Learn more about us and our stories.
Our experiences
“Alone in the wilderness stood a beautiful house. Behind that closed doors, I worked from 6.00 am to 4.00 am. Are two hours enough sleep for a human being, are domestic workers not human being?”
“He would put in and out his private parts into my bottom, in and out into my ears. Whenever I protested, he would cut off my one month salary.”
“My employer threw me out of their house, I knocked and knocked the door as I nowhere to go but for 3 days and 3 nights, my employer never opened the door. I was starving, cold and scared in the dark.”
“I tried to explain to the immigration officer who arrested me while I was collecting my salary in the office of my employer, but he refused to listen as they led me to Heathrow Airport for deportation. I was scared, I was the only woman among men, it was winter. With no coat at all, I had to sleep on the floor, I was so cold. I begged again to the officer and told him that I am not a criminal, why must you treat me this way? I thought in this country, there are human rights but where are the human rights?”
“My employer would poke my eyes until bruised with every little mistake. As I cried of pain, she would tell me, in this country, I could not cry, if I cry, police will catch me.”
These are statements from five members who escaped from their abusive employers.
Contact:
One Year On: the Return to Victorian-Era Slavery for UK Domestic Workers
J4DW, Unite the Union and Kalayaan are launching the campaign ‘Slavery by another name: The new migrant Domestic Worker visa’ on May 7th at the House of Commons, to restore the domestic worker visa with rights.
http://www.j4dw.org/news/one-year-on
Published in London, April 7, 2013
I am sitting on the floor by the right hand corner of the Natural History Museum. I have been here quite a few times and stood in the long queue for hours outside. This time though it is special because I am with my fellow migrant domestic workers (MDWs) on a trip as one of our educational activities organised by members of Justice for Domestic workers (J4DW).
As I sit and look at the gigantic dinosaur skeleton towering over us, I imagine it roaring like the employers who shout and hurl abuse at us in their attempt to frighten myself and my fellow MDWs. For a moment, inside the museum, I just feel like sitting down in a corner and never queuing again. Then I hear our group, enjoying themselves. I feel strong, enthusiastic and positive again. Behind their beautiful smiles are their own struggles, some of them are safe (MDWs under the old system) and some are not (MDWs under the new system). As I wave my hand and smile at them, “go on, I’ll wait here!” I take out my notebook and pen and begin to write.
I want to write about J4DW and the new system of the Domestic Worker Visa. It’s one year since the return to Victorian-era for UK domestic workers. The rights and protections of migrant domestic workers who accompany their employers to work in their private household were removed last 6th April 2012.
J4DW campaigns for social justice and for the recognition of domestic workers’ contribution to economy and British Society.
http://educationandcampaign4domesticworkers.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/talks-and-lectures/work
We organise educational activities such as ESOL classes on Sundays. We also make sure to have a trip around London or to the farms and seaside to ease the isolation of a group of women who have very limited social life, working extremely long hours without days off.
One J4DW member who recently managed to escape from an abusive employer shared her joy,
“I am so happy that I was able to escape from that cage where I was forced to work for 5 big houses with no day off and no pay for 2 years, I am stronger and confident now that I found J4DW, I enjoy so much today”.
This is the kind of comment we often hear when we share our experiences. These type of abusive employment conditions are not new for MDWs. Those who have arrived since 6th April 2012 are in a particularly bad situation as they do not have the right to change employer and their workers’ rights are consequently very limited. Until then, for over a decade those entering with a domestic worker visa had the right to change employers and other rights. They could move on and rebuild their lives when they found decent domestic work. The change has given rise to serious concerns.
“The ability to legally change employer is a fundamental safeguard against a return to bonded labour”
The Home Affairs Select Committee on Human Trafficking in 2008 stated in its inquiry that ‘to retain the Migrant Domestic workers Visa and the protection it offers workers is the single most important issue in preventing the forced labour and trafficking of such workers’. This visa was cited as the best practice by the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights on Migrants. The CSJ therefore has serious fears over the changes made to the ODW Visa on 6 April 2012. (Ref: The Centre for Social Justice report by Slavery Working Group, 2013.)
The survey I did for my research, Migrant Domestic Workers and their Legal Struggles, identified the differences between the experiences of 30 MDWs with the employer who brought them to the UK (the 1st employer) and the experiences in the second or present employer, showing the value of being able to change employer.
Table 1: Hours of Work in 1st and 2nd employer
http://www.j4dw.org/news/one-year-on
Hours of work in a day
with First employer
Hours of work in a day
with Second employer
Hours of work
No. out of 30 MDWs
Hours of work
No. out of 30 MDWs
8-9
0
8-9
5
10-11
0
10-11
5
12-13
1
12-13
14
14-15
3
14-15
5
16-17
9
16-17
1
18-19
7
18-19
0
20-21
1
20-21
0
22-23
0
22-23
0
24 hours
9
24 hours
0
(Reference:http://www.scribd.com/doc/116832898/Migrant-domestic-workers-and-their-legal-struggles)
Options that are not options
Under the old system, if we leave the employer who brought us to the UK, we could seek domestic work in another household and this new employer would apply for our visa to continue to work here.
In the new system, the domestic worker is allowed to enter and stay for no longer than 6 months and only work for the employer who brings her or him into the UK.
How are we coping with the current situation? It’s been a year since the ConDem Government removed the rights and protections from migrant domestic workers in the UK. This problem is not new to us because the old system still had the problem of domestic workers in the diplomatic household who have been tied to their diplomat employers for decades.
Now all domestic workers are packed into this inhuman system. Government tells us that there are options for people in this situation:
National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a victim identification and support process for victims of trafficking. It is designed to make it easier for all the main agencies to work together and share information. This includes the police, UK Border Agency, Gangmasters Licensing Authority, local authorities and non-governmental organisations, for example, the Salvation Army and Poppy Project.
Some can apply for Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VRRP), open to asylum applicants whose application has been refused or who have been given temporary permission to stay in the UK (known as 'limited leave to remain'.
There is also Assisted Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants (AVRIM) programme for those who are in the United Kingdom illegally and wish to return to their home country.
In some cases people can apply for Asylum protection given by a country to someone who is fleeing persecution in their own country. It is given under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. To be recognised as a refugee, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you have a well-founded fear of persecution.
If they do not take any of these ‘options’ and leave their abusive employer, after 6 months MDWs will be undocumented. They will have to live and work clandestinely, they will be criminalised, detained and deported.
“My brothers and sisters would sleep with no food that sometimes they wouldn’t wake-up in the morning, I would run in the forest to search for some bananas even in hope that I could find even at drought season. I would immediately feed them banana to revive them. It frightened me everyday, how could I not do something? I wouldn’t want to go home to witness this again, all I want is for my siblings to be able to eat properly”, says Jana who entered the UK after 6th April, 2012.
Jana escaped from her employer who brought her here from the Middle East. She worked 24 hours as she has no proper rest on duty for a 1 year old child. She has no day off even just to send money, her employer didn’t allow her to go to the bank. If she couldn’t send money how could her family survive without her remittance? She escaped even if she didn’t know where to go. On the way she met a man who showed her the way to the bus station to London.
“In London , even I’m very scared what can I do? I need to work. I found a job who offered me £250 for 6 days work a week. I start to work at 8am and finished at 11pm, hard work and long hours but at least I’m eating. I worked for 2 weeks they only paid me £250 because they know my situation and there’s nothing I could do I have no choice. I didn’t go back again to this employer who called and offer me £50 a week from 9am to 6pm. I didn’t work in that employer, I found another job with £250 a week salary.
“It was hard work from 6am to midnight but do I have a choice? I rather put-up than be homeless at least I am eating and I have money to send to my family. In my 2nd week, the employer refused to pay me, I insisted but when I came back from my day off, my employer asked me to pack my things and leave, now I don’t know when I could have job again. I also feel very sad knowing I have no rights in the UK but I do ask why my fellow domestic workers have rights and I don’t have, what makes me different from my fellow MDWs? Being with J4DW I am happier, it eases my loneliness and my fellow MDWs have given me more courage to live on”.
The repetitive abuse of employers to Jana is just one instance among many abusive employment practices experienced by MDWs. The new system has given employers more power and licence to abuse and exploit their workers. The principal protection we are promised is anti-trafficking legislation. Who could claim that trafficking law works for migrant domestic workers? Protection without rights as workers doesn’t work and right to change employer is the only protection. These are very clear violations of human rights both as workers and as human beings.
MDWs challenging the system
Justice 4 Domestic workers (J4DW) has just celebrated its 4 years Anniversary. In her welcome speech, Chairperson Maria Dardagan said:
“J4DW has worked to develop members as leaders and enabled members to speak for themselves and demand their rights with the support of Unite the Union and many organisations and individual supporters and funders.”
Celebrations included expressions of different cultures and nationalities, but also what we have in common with the presentation of a migrant’s life in the poem “Our Journey” with song and a slideshow of J4DW’s accomplishment throughout the years. There was a film showing of ‘Slave Trap’ by Hardcash Productions filmed in the years when there was no domestic worker visa at all. It seems the situation then was similar to the current situation of MDWs. We held an open forum with panellists of experts on immigration/human rights (Virginia Mantouvalou), employment rights law expert (Jamila Duncan-Bosu, ATLEU) and Kalayaan (Catherine) with Migrants Rights Network (Don Flynn) as Chair of the open forum.
It was informative with good suggestions from the panel and participants for the way forward in campaigning to restore the rights of domestic worker and end with writing letters to MPs which involved everybody in the campaign.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/30043927
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/30044967
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/30049647
Justice for Domestic Workers campaigns for:
The restoration and expansion of the previous immigration system governing migrant domestic workers accompanying their employers to the UK. Specifically:
The right to change employer
The right to renew the domestic worker visa while still in the UK
The right to settlement following five years presence in the UK
The right to family reunion
All the above to be applied to domestic workers working in diplomatic households
The signing, ratification and implementation of the ILO Convention on domestic work by the UK government.
As the world reports progress on new laws that protect millions of domestic workers around the world the UK is an exception. It has held back from the giant leap on the basic rights and protection for migrant domestic workers signified by ILO Convention 189. There are four countries – Uruguay, Philippines, Mauritius and Italy have ratified the ILO Convention 189, decent work for domestic workers. In addition, Bolivia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Italy have already approved ratifications, while the European Commission is urging EU Member States to ratify the domestic workers convention.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/10/2012-year-progress-domestic-workers
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-264_en.htm?locale=en
Marissa Begonia's profile:
Current Coordinator of Justice for Domestic Workers (J4DW).
June, 2004: Enter UK via domestic worker visa in a private household from Hong Kong.
October, 2004: Escaped abusive employment 2008 Joined by first daughter Jemarie
2009–2012: Chair of J4DW
2009: Granted Indefinite Leave to Remain
2009: Delegate in GFMD, Greece 2009
2010–2011: Represented UK Workers Group at TUC and Unite invitation in Geneva, ILO Domestic workers Convention discussion.
Joined by son Jemuel and daughter Jerisse in 2011 after a year of appeal in court.
2013: Currently applying British Citizenship
“Given the rights and protection on the domestic worker visa, migrant domestic workers could rebuild life, contribute and make a difference.”
Our objectives
To protect, support, understand and campaign for the rights and welfare of all migrant domestic workers.
To improve the quality of life of migrant domestic workers by providing education and skills to help
us be competitive
and adapt to the new environment and
cultural differences in the UK.
To end the isolation and vulnerability of migrant domestic workers by keeping ourselves updated on changes in immigration law and other
issues affecting us.
To promote solidarity and coordination
with other organisations and other
communities.
To prepare migrant domestic workers for public
speaking and mobilise for
meetings and demonstrations to enable us to
oppose all injustices, inequality,
discrimination and slavery.
To be recognised as significant
contributors to the UK economy, since
migrant domestic workers are caring for and supporting families, the building blocks of every nation.
Our services
We provide emergency support and shelter for migrant domestic workers who have escaped abusive situations. Members are also provided with access to training activities across a range of skills.
Classes for migrant domestic workers in ICT, English language, Arts and Trade Union rightsAdvice and support services for migrant domestic workers, with sign-posting to professional advice where neededPractical support for migrant domestic workers who have run away from employers or who are in other acute situationsOrganising migrant domestic workers to speak out about the value of their work and their entitlement to rightsSupport for migrant domestic workers to become Trade Union members and acting as a branch of Unite the UnionWork with Trade Unions and NGOs to fight for the rights of individual migrant domestic workers and the collective rights of all migrant domestic workersSpeaking at externally organised eventsSolidarity meetings to strategise and work on common issuesDeveloping materials to inform and educate the publicOrganisation of social and fundraising events
========================================================
Justice for Domestic Workers
The self–help group for migrant domestic workers
http://www.j4dw.org/
Justice for Domestic Workers (J4DW) was established on March 15, 2009. It is an organisation of migrant domestic workers who work in private houses in the UK.
This is our website about the problems and injustices we face, and our struggle against legislation that would make our lives even harder. It is our voice. Thank you for listening.
Latest news
One Year On: the Return to Victorian-Era Slavery for UK Domestic Workers
By Marissa Begonia. Published in London on 7th April 2013.
I am sitting on the floor by the right hand corner of the Natural History Museum. I have been here quite a few times and stood in the long queue for hours outside. This time though it is special because I am with my fellow migrant domestic workers (MDWs) on a trip as one of our educational activities organised by members of Justice for Domestic workers (J4DW).As I sit and look at the gigantic dinosaur skeleton towering over us, I imagine it roaring like the employers who shout and hurl abuse at us in their attempt to frighten myself and my fellow MDWs. For a moment, inside the museum, I just feel like sitting down in a corner and never queuing again. Then I hear our group, enjoying themselves. I feel strong, enthusiastic and positive again. Behind their beautiful smiles are their own struggles, some of them are safe (MDWs under the old system) and some are not (MDWs under the new system). As I wave my hand and smile at them, “go on, I’ll wait here!” I take out my notebook and pen and begin to write. Full article.Our campaigning
Community organising is central to who we are and what we do. We are the only organisation that is run for and by domestic workers. We believe that in order to secure our rights we must educate and mobilise ourselves and build links with those who can support us. Learn more about our campaigns.
Supporting each other
As well as speaking out for our rights we also solve each other’s practical problems, because when domestic workers flee from abusive employers it is their fellow domestic workers to whom they turn for help. We find each other emergency accommodation and pool our resources to provide food and clothing. Together we search for ways to overcome our isolation and vulnerability and demand respect as workers. Learn more about our objectives and how we fulfil them with our services.
Who we are
We are mainly women, though we do have men who are members. We come from the countries of Asia and Africa including India, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Nigeria and others. Some of us had to escape from abusive employers, it was our only means of surviving. Finding one another and sharing our experiences is our great refuge. Learn more about us and our stories.
Our experiences
“Alone in the wilderness stood a beautiful house. Behind that closed doors, I worked from 6.00 am to 4.00 am. Are two hours enough sleep for a human being, are domestic workers not human being?”
“He would put in and out his private parts into my bottom, in and out into my ears. Whenever I protested, he would cut off my one month salary.”
“My employer threw me out of their house, I knocked and knocked the door as I nowhere to go but for 3 days and 3 nights, my employer never opened the door. I was starving, cold and scared in the dark.”
“I tried to explain to the immigration officer who arrested me while I was collecting my salary in the office of my employer, but he refused to listen as they led me to Heathrow Airport for deportation. I was scared, I was the only woman among men, it was winter. With no coat at all, I had to sleep on the floor, I was so cold. I begged again to the officer and told him that I am not a criminal, why must you treat me this way? I thought in this country, there are human rights but where are the human rights?”
“My employer would poke my eyes until bruised with every little mistake. As I cried of pain, she would tell me, in this country, I could not cry, if I cry, police will catch me.”
These are statements from five members who escaped from their abusive employers.
Contact:
J4DW, Unite the Union and Kalayaan are launching the campaign ‘Slavery by another name: The new migrant Domestic Worker visa’ on May 7th at the House of Commons, to restore the domestic worker visa with rights.
http://www.j4dw.org/news/one-year-on
Published in London, April 7, 2013
I am sitting on the floor by the right hand corner of the Natural History Museum. I have been here quite a few times and stood in the long queue for hours outside. This time though it is special because I am with my fellow migrant domestic workers (MDWs) on a trip as one of our educational activities organised by members of Justice for Domestic workers (J4DW).
As I sit and look at the gigantic dinosaur skeleton towering over us, I imagine it roaring like the employers who shout and hurl abuse at us in their attempt to frighten myself and my fellow MDWs. For a moment, inside the museum, I just feel like sitting down in a corner and never queuing again. Then I hear our group, enjoying themselves. I feel strong, enthusiastic and positive again. Behind their beautiful smiles are their own struggles, some of them are safe (MDWs under the old system) and some are not (MDWs under the new system). As I wave my hand and smile at them, “go on, I’ll wait here!” I take out my notebook and pen and begin to write.
I want to write about J4DW and the new system of the Domestic Worker Visa. It’s one year since the return to Victorian-era for UK domestic workers. The rights and protections of migrant domestic workers who accompany their employers to work in their private household were removed last 6th April 2012.
J4DW campaigns for social justice and for the recognition of domestic workers’ contribution to economy and British Society.
http://educationandcampaign4domesticworkers.blogspot.co.uk/
http://www.tate.org.uk/whats-on/tate-modern/talks-and-lectures/work
We organise educational activities such as ESOL classes on Sundays. We also make sure to have a trip around London or to the farms and seaside to ease the isolation of a group of women who have very limited social life, working extremely long hours without days off.
One J4DW member who recently managed to escape from an abusive employer shared her joy,
“I am so happy that I was able to escape from that cage where I was forced to work for 5 big houses with no day off and no pay for 2 years, I am stronger and confident now that I found J4DW, I enjoy so much today”.
This is the kind of comment we often hear when we share our experiences. These type of abusive employment conditions are not new for MDWs. Those who have arrived since 6th April 2012 are in a particularly bad situation as they do not have the right to change employer and their workers’ rights are consequently very limited. Until then, for over a decade those entering with a domestic worker visa had the right to change employers and other rights. They could move on and rebuild their lives when they found decent domestic work. The change has given rise to serious concerns.
“The ability to legally change employer is a fundamental safeguard against a return to bonded labour”
The Home Affairs Select Committee on Human Trafficking in 2008 stated in its inquiry that ‘to retain the Migrant Domestic workers Visa and the protection it offers workers is the single most important issue in preventing the forced labour and trafficking of such workers’. This visa was cited as the best practice by the International Labour Organisation and the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Human Rights on Migrants. The CSJ therefore has serious fears over the changes made to the ODW Visa on 6 April 2012. (Ref: The Centre for Social Justice report by Slavery Working Group, 2013.)
The survey I did for my research, Migrant Domestic Workers and their Legal Struggles, identified the differences between the experiences of 30 MDWs with the employer who brought them to the UK (the 1st employer) and the experiences in the second or present employer, showing the value of being able to change employer.
Table 1: Hours of Work in 1st and 2nd employer
http://www.j4dw.org/news/one-year-on
Hours of work in a day
with First employer
Hours of work in a day
with Second employer
Hours of work
No. out of 30 MDWs
Hours of work
No. out of 30 MDWs
8-9
0
8-9
5
10-11
0
10-11
5
12-13
1
12-13
14
14-15
3
14-15
5
16-17
9
16-17
1
18-19
7
18-19
0
20-21
1
20-21
0
22-23
0
22-23
0
24 hours
9
24 hours
0
(Reference:http://www.scribd.com/doc/116832898/Migrant-domestic-workers-and-their-legal-struggles)
Options that are not options
Under the old system, if we leave the employer who brought us to the UK, we could seek domestic work in another household and this new employer would apply for our visa to continue to work here.
In the new system, the domestic worker is allowed to enter and stay for no longer than 6 months and only work for the employer who brings her or him into the UK.
How are we coping with the current situation? It’s been a year since the ConDem Government removed the rights and protections from migrant domestic workers in the UK. This problem is not new to us because the old system still had the problem of domestic workers in the diplomatic household who have been tied to their diplomat employers for decades.
Now all domestic workers are packed into this inhuman system. Government tells us that there are options for people in this situation:
National Referral Mechanism (NRM) is a victim identification and support process for victims of trafficking. It is designed to make it easier for all the main agencies to work together and share information. This includes the police, UK Border Agency, Gangmasters Licensing Authority, local authorities and non-governmental organisations, for example, the Salvation Army and Poppy Project.
Some can apply for Voluntary Assisted Return and Reintegration Programme (VRRP), open to asylum applicants whose application has been refused or who have been given temporary permission to stay in the UK (known as 'limited leave to remain'.
There is also Assisted Voluntary Return of Irregular Migrants (AVRIM) programme for those who are in the United Kingdom illegally and wish to return to their home country.
In some cases people can apply for Asylum protection given by a country to someone who is fleeing persecution in their own country. It is given under the 1951 United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees. To be recognised as a refugee, you must have left your country and be unable to go back because you have a well-founded fear of persecution.
If they do not take any of these ‘options’ and leave their abusive employer, after 6 months MDWs will be undocumented. They will have to live and work clandestinely, they will be criminalised, detained and deported.
“My brothers and sisters would sleep with no food that sometimes they wouldn’t wake-up in the morning, I would run in the forest to search for some bananas even in hope that I could find even at drought season. I would immediately feed them banana to revive them. It frightened me everyday, how could I not do something? I wouldn’t want to go home to witness this again, all I want is for my siblings to be able to eat properly”, says Jana who entered the UK after 6th April, 2012.
Jana escaped from her employer who brought her here from the Middle East. She worked 24 hours as she has no proper rest on duty for a 1 year old child. She has no day off even just to send money, her employer didn’t allow her to go to the bank. If she couldn’t send money how could her family survive without her remittance? She escaped even if she didn’t know where to go. On the way she met a man who showed her the way to the bus station to London.
“In London , even I’m very scared what can I do? I need to work. I found a job who offered me £250 for 6 days work a week. I start to work at 8am and finished at 11pm, hard work and long hours but at least I’m eating. I worked for 2 weeks they only paid me £250 because they know my situation and there’s nothing I could do I have no choice. I didn’t go back again to this employer who called and offer me £50 a week from 9am to 6pm. I didn’t work in that employer, I found another job with £250 a week salary.
“It was hard work from 6am to midnight but do I have a choice? I rather put-up than be homeless at least I am eating and I have money to send to my family. In my 2nd week, the employer refused to pay me, I insisted but when I came back from my day off, my employer asked me to pack my things and leave, now I don’t know when I could have job again. I also feel very sad knowing I have no rights in the UK but I do ask why my fellow domestic workers have rights and I don’t have, what makes me different from my fellow MDWs? Being with J4DW I am happier, it eases my loneliness and my fellow MDWs have given me more courage to live on”.
The repetitive abuse of employers to Jana is just one instance among many abusive employment practices experienced by MDWs. The new system has given employers more power and licence to abuse and exploit their workers. The principal protection we are promised is anti-trafficking legislation. Who could claim that trafficking law works for migrant domestic workers? Protection without rights as workers doesn’t work and right to change employer is the only protection. These are very clear violations of human rights both as workers and as human beings.
MDWs challenging the system
Justice 4 Domestic workers (J4DW) has just celebrated its 4 years Anniversary. In her welcome speech, Chairperson Maria Dardagan said:
“J4DW has worked to develop members as leaders and enabled members to speak for themselves and demand their rights with the support of Unite the Union and many organisations and individual supporters and funders.”
Celebrations included expressions of different cultures and nationalities, but also what we have in common with the presentation of a migrant’s life in the poem “Our Journey” with song and a slideshow of J4DW’s accomplishment throughout the years. There was a film showing of ‘Slave Trap’ by Hardcash Productions filmed in the years when there was no domestic worker visa at all. It seems the situation then was similar to the current situation of MDWs. We held an open forum with panellists of experts on immigration/human rights (Virginia Mantouvalou), employment rights law expert (Jamila Duncan-Bosu, ATLEU) and Kalayaan (Catherine) with Migrants Rights Network (Don Flynn) as Chair of the open forum.
It was informative with good suggestions from the panel and participants for the way forward in campaigning to restore the rights of domestic worker and end with writing letters to MPs which involved everybody in the campaign.
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/30043927
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/30044967
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/30049647
Justice for Domestic Workers campaigns for:
The restoration and expansion of the previous immigration system governing migrant domestic workers accompanying their employers to the UK. Specifically:
The right to change employer
The right to renew the domestic worker visa while still in the UK
The right to settlement following five years presence in the UK
The right to family reunion
All the above to be applied to domestic workers working in diplomatic households
The signing, ratification and implementation of the ILO Convention on domestic work by the UK government.
As the world reports progress on new laws that protect millions of domestic workers around the world the UK is an exception. It has held back from the giant leap on the basic rights and protection for migrant domestic workers signified by ILO Convention 189. There are four countries – Uruguay, Philippines, Mauritius and Italy have ratified the ILO Convention 189, decent work for domestic workers. In addition, Bolivia, Colombia, Nicaragua, Paraguay and Italy have already approved ratifications, while the European Commission is urging EU Member States to ratify the domestic workers convention.
https://www.hrw.org/news/2013/01/10/2012-year-progress-domestic-workers
http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-13-264_en.htm?locale=en
Marissa Begonia's profile:
Current Coordinator of Justice for Domestic Workers (J4DW).
June, 2004: Enter UK via domestic worker visa in a private household from Hong Kong.
October, 2004: Escaped abusive employment 2008 Joined by first daughter Jemarie
2009–2012: Chair of J4DW
2009: Granted Indefinite Leave to Remain
2009: Delegate in GFMD, Greece 2009
2010–2011: Represented UK Workers Group at TUC and Unite invitation in Geneva, ILO Domestic workers Convention discussion.
Joined by son Jemuel and daughter Jerisse in 2011 after a year of appeal in court.
2013: Currently applying British Citizenship
“Given the rights and protection on the domestic worker visa, migrant domestic workers could rebuild life, contribute and make a difference.”
Our objectives
To protect, support, understand and campaign for the rights and welfare of all migrant domestic workers.
To improve the quality of life of migrant domestic workers by providing education and skills to help
us be competitive
and adapt to the new environment and
cultural differences in the UK.
To end the isolation and vulnerability of migrant domestic workers by keeping ourselves updated on changes in immigration law and other
issues affecting us.
To promote solidarity and coordination
with other organisations and other
communities.
To prepare migrant domestic workers for public
speaking and mobilise for
meetings and demonstrations to enable us to
oppose all injustices, inequality,
discrimination and slavery.
To be recognised as significant
contributors to the UK economy, since
migrant domestic workers are caring for and supporting families, the building blocks of every nation.
Our services
We provide emergency support and shelter for migrant domestic workers who have escaped abusive situations. Members are also provided with access to training activities across a range of skills.
Classes for migrant domestic workers in ICT, English language, Arts and Trade Union rightsAdvice and support services for migrant domestic workers, with sign-posting to professional advice where neededPractical support for migrant domestic workers who have run away from employers or who are in other acute situationsOrganising migrant domestic workers to speak out about the value of their work and their entitlement to rightsSupport for migrant domestic workers to become Trade Union members and acting as a branch of Unite the UnionWork with Trade Unions and NGOs to fight for the rights of individual migrant domestic workers and the collective rights of all migrant domestic workersSpeaking at externally organised eventsSolidarity meetings to strategise and work on common issuesDeveloping materials to inform and educate the publicOrganisation of social and fundraising events
Migrant domestic workers of different nationalities decided to form an organisation upon learning that many of our needs, problems and dreams are shared. Driven by poverty from our countries of birth, we left to support ourselves and give our families a decent livelihood. Here in the UK, we experienced slavery, inequality and discrimination. Alone we were often unable to exercise our own freedom and rights. Our passports were taken from us by employers, we were made to work long hours without pay, proper salaries not paid or delayed, we suffered verbal abuse even physical assault, severe mental threats and sexual harassment. Because of all these, we were forced to leave the household in search of a better employer.
Migrant domestic workers continue to seek recognition for their contributions as carers to children, elders and household management. We contribute to the British economy and society. We continue to search for ways to overcome our isolation and vulnerability and demand respect as workers and as human beings. Justice for Domestic Workers was also formed to fight the changes in Immigration and Citizenship Laws which will have a catastrophic impact on the already vulnerable Migrant domestic workers. These changes will increase our dependence on employers when renewing our Visa which give more opportunities for employers to abuse us. That is why we need to unite to make us stronger to campaign for our freedom, rights and justice.
Our experiences
“Alone in the wilderness stood a beautiful house. Behind that closed doors, I worked from 6.00 am to 4.00 am. Are two hours enough sleep for a human being, are domestic workers not human being?”
“He would put in and out his private parts into my bottom, in and out into my ears. Whenever I protested, he would cut off my one month salary.”
“My employer threw me out of their house, I knocked and knocked the door as I nowhere to go but for 3 days and 3 nights, my employer never opened the door. I was starving, cold and scared in the dark.”
“I tried to explain to the immigration officer who arrested me while I was collecting my salary in the office of my employer, but he refused to listen as they led me to Heathrow Airport for deportation. I was scared, I was the only woman among men, it was winter. With no coat at all, I had to sleep on the floor, I was so cold. I begged again to the officer and told him that I am not a criminal, why must you treat me this way? I thought in this country, there are human rights but where are the human rights?”
“My employer would poke my eyes until bruised with every little mistake. As I cried of pain, she would tell me, in this country, I could not cry, if I cry, police will catch me.”
These are statements from five members who escaped from their abusive employers.
===================================================
Pinay maid wins case against Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and P500K in compensation
Susana Danio, a Filipina maid from Pangasinan, recently won a legal battle in the United Kingdom over being unfairly dismissed by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, reports ABS-CBNNews.com. The London-born princess, heiress daughter of US duty-free billionaire Robert Miller, was ordered to pay Danio almost £7,500 (about P500,000).
Danio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
- See more at: http://www.spot.ph/the-feed/47088/pinay-maid-wins-case-against-princess-in-uk-paid-almost-7500-in-compensation/#sthash.nJJ9vmGR.dpufDanio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
http://www.kalayaan.org.uk/
Pinay maid wins case against Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece and P500K in compensation
Susana Danio, a Filipina maid from Pangasinan, recently won a legal battle in the United Kingdom over being unfairly dismissed by Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece, reports ABS-CBNNews.com. The London-born princess, heiress daughter of US duty-free billionaire Robert Miller, was ordered to pay Danio almost £7,500 (about P500,000).
Danio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
- See more at: http://www.spot.ph/the-feed/47088/pinay-maid-wins-case-against-princess-in-uk-paid-almost-7500-in-compensation/#sthash.nJJ9vmGR.dpufDanio, 34, claimed she was fired in April after other staff members of the household "brainwashed" the princess. "Senior staff were jealous of me. After three months, my salary was increased. The princess knew I did my job well. It was all about envy and jealousy from senior staff. They made up stories, gossip and lies to brainwash the princess," The Daily Mail quoted Danio as saying. "I was accused of stealing clothes, sleeping in guest bedrooms, not listening and being rude."
Saying it took her six months to find another job, she sought around £10,000 in damages, according to The Daily Mail. A central London tribunal awarded her £7,442. Judge Angela Stewart said, "We order the respondent to pay the claimant for being unfairly dismissed...The tribunal concluded that even though the claimant got a written reference she would still have had to explain about her dismissal and what had happened about her position in the previous household."
Danio's case has been compared to a UK TV period drama, Downton Abbey, featuring plotting servants. According to The Daily Mail, Danio has lived in the UK since 2004 and has worked for several "reputable private families." Princess Marie Chantal, 42, owns a chain of children's fashion boutiques and has published a fairytale book. She is married to Prince Pavlos of Greece.
For more on this story, log on to ABS-CBNNews.com and The Daily Mail.
Fuelling slavery not fighting it
Kalayaan has produced a briefing showing the dire impacts of tying domestic workers to their employers. Findings from reports made by workers to Kalayaan over the last year make it clear that treatment has worsened for those on the tied visa and that those who do escape are being driven underground.
These findings make it more imperative than ever that the rights contained within the original migrant domestic worker visa are reinstated.
Highlighting the issues behind hidden slavery
Kalayaan was delighted with the opportunity to meet the Prime Minster and to raise with him directly the ways in which the tied migrant domestic worker visa both facilitates, and prevents escape from, slavery.
On the 22nd April 2013 the Prime Minster opened the Human Trafficking Foundation's Hidden Slavery Exhibition in the House of Commons. The exhibition featured two migrant domestic workers who had escaped slavery. One was on the original migrant domestic worker visa and so had been able to move on with her life. The second was on the tied visa and still underground, in limbo and unable to access justice.
Out of the frying pan into the fire
The 6th April 2013 marks the first anniversary of the removal of basic rights protections from migrant domestic workers including the vital right to change employers allowing workers to escape abuse. We are beginning to see the effects of these changes with workers who entered on the new visa being criminalised and driven underground to further exploitation.
Report on Domestic Workers from ILO
The International Labour Organisation has released new global statistics on domestic workers. You can see the report here.
Photo Credit: Ila Mehrotra
"That's not work, it's slavery"
Watch Kalayaan's video on why the protections for migrant domestic workers are so important
With thanks to Hardcash productions
Please note that the person assisting a domestic worker in this clip is not a Kalayaan employee. Kalayaan would not approach an employer at their residence.
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For domestic workers:
These changes will not affect you if you are already in the UK. They will also not affect people who apply for entry clearance or enter before 6 April 2012. The UKBA have confirmed you will stil be able to change employer, apply for settlement after 5 years and apply to bring your dependents (as long as you meet the requirements). You can read what the UKBA say here.
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Domestic Workers - join the self help Union group Justice 4 Domestic Workers
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Are you employing a migrant domestic worker? Would you like to respond to the Government?
If you are an employer and would like to let the Government know your views, Kalayaan would encourage you to do this. It is important that the Government hear concerns from people with different perspecitves on the issue. You will find notes on how you can help here. The best things you can do as an employer are to write to your MP (template letter here) or to fill out a consultation response (see above).
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Alarming proposals could mean a return to slavery for migrant domestic workers in the UK
Click here to see Kalayaan's briefing on the consequences of the Government proposals for migrant domestic workers and the reasoning behind the proposals, which is found to be flawed.
On the 9th June 2011 the Government announced a Consultation on Employment Related Settlement, Tier 5 and Overseas Domestic Workers.
Kalayaan condemns these proposals which, if made law, could mean a return to slavery for migrant domestic workers in the UK.
They include options to either abolish the route for migrant domestic workers to enter the UK, leaving them open to being brought into the UK by employers through informal routes in breach of immigration controls, or to restrict them to a 6 or 12 month non renewable visa, and to remove the right to change employers even if severely abused. Removing the right to change employer would mean a return to bonded labour. The visa has been recognised as the main protection for this group of workers who are already especially vulnerable to severe exploitation including slavery and trafficking for domestic servitude. Removing the visa altogether would increase trafficking via illegal routes and unlawful working leaving those workers believing they are unable to contact the authorities for assistance and with few if any enforceable rights. Limiting the length of the visa makes it likely that unscrupulous employers would keep workers working for them beyond the length of the visa, again without any recourse to meaningful legal protection against even severe exploitation. The Government claims that anti trafficking measures can replace protections provided by the visa. Kalayaan, together with many others working with victims of trafficking, hve real doubts about how effective these measures are in practice for all victims. Nor do anti trafficking protections do anything to protect an individual before they are trafficked or to assist those who have been severely exploited but whose abuse does not meet all the trafficking criteria. It is vital that we take action now, before these proposals are implemented. Please watch this space for campaign actions and please do get involved to prevent this move towards state sanctioned slavery.
Photo credit: Leticia Valverdes, Kalayaan and Oxfam
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Ending the abuse: Policies that work to protect migrant domestic workers
Kalayaan's new report draws on evidence collected over the last decade and demonstrates that migrant domestic workers are highly vulnerable to abuse and exploitation. The research shows the the 'Overseas Domestic Worker (ODW) visa is an inexpensive and effective way of protecting MDWs, and that without this legal channel trafficking of domestic workers via illegal routes could increase. There are however areas in which urgent action is needed to improve protections particularly for domestic workers who enter the UK accompanying diplomats. These workers are shown to be 20 times more likely to be in slavery than those who work in private households.
Photo credit: Leticia Valverdes, Kalayaan and Oxfam
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New requirement for visa applications - employer passport
New visa forms were brought out by the UKBA on 7 April 2011. In addition to changing the fee (it is now £550 to renew a domestic worker visa in the post), the UKBA are asking that domestic workers provide their employer's passport as evidence of the employer's right to reside in the UK. Normally all documents sent to the UKBA must be originals. Kalayaan have spoken to the UKBA about this requirement and they have agreed that a photocopy of the employer's passport (and visa if the employer is not a British National) is acceptable. A note about this will soon be included in the guidance given to caseworkers (sometimes referred to as the IDIs). Until the note is issued we will provide you with a letter detailing our conversation with the home office so that you can make the caseworker assessing your application aware of this. Please call us to request our help.
Kalayaan is a winner of the Guardian Charity Awards 2010
Kalayaan is delighted to be one of five small charities recognised for our 'extraordinary work with vulnerable people'. As well as a cash prize, the award will give Kalayaan valuable mentoring, support and training. You can find out more on the guardian website.
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 | Migrant domestic workers on a Kalayaan trip to Cambridge | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Photo by Daniel Barnes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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