Monday, 09 October 2023
Recent research from the University of Nottingham shows that migrants employed as domestic workers in the UK may be at risk of labour exploitation due to questionable employment practices.
The study into domestic workers, from the University of Nottingham Rights Lab, highlighted the nature of the working conditions experienced by migrant workers which included verbal abuse, excessive working hours and payment rates below the minimum wage.
Survey respondents also explained that they did not know where to go to get help, and that many had received threats from their employers, with a quarter of respondents stating that they received a lasting injury as a result of physical violence.
Dr Caroline Emberson, who led the study, said: “To our knowledge, this is the first post-Brexit study to shed light on the nature of labour exploitation among migrant domestic workers coming to the UK. Our survey findings present a worrying picture of abuse ranging from widespread reports of verbal intimidation to practices that indicate more serious forms of exploitation including modern slavery.”
This research is set to help create a more detailed understanding of the extent of the exploitation of migrant workers, particularly in a post-Brexit world where migrant workers arrive in the UK from a wide variety of source countries.
A survey of 97 domestic workers, two thirds of whom were Filipina nationals, highlighted a number of concerns within the industry.
Key findings included:
- 82 per cent reported that they had suffered verbal abuse from their employer
- 55 per cent reported that they ‘always’ or ‘sometimes’ felt that they would like to leave their current job
- 44 per cent did not know where to find help in relation to their employment rights
- 44 per cent ‘often’ suffered from privacy issues during their work
- 42 per cent reported threatening behaviour from their employer – over a third reported physical violence
- 41 per cent reported that their employer had at times withheld their income
Dr Emberson and doctoral researcher Selim Yilmaz highlighted the need for greater regulation of employers, the ratification of the International Domestic Workers Convention (c189) and to help vulnerable workers to identify and report abuse.
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More information available from Dr Caroline Emberson on Caroline.Emberson@nottingham.ac.uk
Faith Pring - Media Relations Manager
Email: faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
Phone: 0115 748 4411
Location: University of Nottingham, University Park
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About the University of Nottingham
Ranked 32 in Europe and 16th in the UK by the QS World University Rankings: Europe 2024, the University of Nottingham is a founding member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Studying at the University of Nottingham is a life-changing experience, and we pride ourselves on unlocking the potential of our students. We have a pioneering spirit, expressed in the vision of our founder Sir Jesse Boot, which has seen us lead the way in establishing campuses in China and Malaysia - part of a globally connected network of education, research and industrial engagement.
Nottingham was crowned Sports University of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2024 – the third time it has been given the honour since 2018 – and by the Daily Mail University Guide 2024.
The university is among the best universities in the UK for the strength of our research, positioned seventh for research power in the UK according to REF 2021. The birthplace of discoveries such as MRI and ibuprofen, our innovations transform lives and tackle global problems such as sustainable food supplies, ending modern slavery, developing greener transport, and reducing reliance on fossil fuels.
The university is a major employer and industry partner - locally and globally - and our graduates are the second most targeted by the UK's top employers, according to The Graduate Market in 2022 report by High Fliers Research.
We lead the Universities for Nottingham initiative, in partnership with Nottingham Trent University, a pioneering collaboration between the city’s two world-class institutions to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing for residents in the city and region we are proud to call home.
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