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Details from projects on Forced Labour and Domestic Work, 2012
Citation preview
Exploitation & forced labour in Europe’s workplaces and households
Nick Clark
Leena Kumarappan
Janroj Keles
• 2 related projects looking at “vulnerability” or “precariousness” in the labour market
• Nuffield Foundation funded: Migrant Domestic Workers Employment Rights
• Joseph Rowntree Foundation funded: Responses to Forced Labour in Europe
• Outline of the projects• Some key findings• The different research experiences
Joseph Rowntree Forced Labour programme
http://www.jrf.org.uk/work/workarea/forced-labour
Domestic workers
• Interviews• Examination of documents from files at
UKBA• Unite survey of domestic workers pay &
conditions
“like other workers, most domestic workers benefit from the national minimum wage, statutory sick pay, paid annual leave and protection from discrimination and unfair dismissal, as well as other protections.”
Ed Davey MP, BIS Minister, Westminster Hall 29-6-11
Employment rights in UK
• Visa requirements (employed, NMW, statement of terms)
• Working time: 48 hours does not apply– Neil Carberry CBI, ref ILO Convention: “The proposed
convention would undermine the principle of EU law that an individual should be protected against being forced to work long hours but can choose to work longer if they wish.”
• Health & Safety: no inspections of private households
• National Minimum Wage: “family worker exception”
UKBA’s diligence
Manufacturing precarity through tax evasion
• 16 interviewees mention problems with payslips• “I want to pay tax, because I want to be legal, don’t want
to be here illegal. I work here, everyone is paying tax, I should pay the same. That’s why I applied my self-employed. If employer don’t want to pay, I will pay.” [Filipina, Female, 50-59, has ILR]
• “I understand what they mean [re part payment in cash] because you know, they don't want to pay extra tax, you know. I have agreed because, you know, there is no choice.” [Filipina, Female, 30-39]
Payslips and contracts
Net hourly pay (Unite survey)
Forced labour in Europe
Nine country study
Country report & case studies Organisation Partners
France WLRI Nick Clark
Civic Forum Nicholas Bell (case study)
Germany WLRI Dr. Janroj Keles
Ireland WLRI Prof Sonia McKay
Italy University Ca’ Foscari, Venice Fabio Perocco
Latvia University of Latvia, Riga Aija Lulle
Netherlands Raboud University, Nijmigen/Tilburg University
Dr Mijke HouwerzjilDr Connie Rijken
Poland - Weronika Kloc-Nowak
Spain Gabinet d’Estudi Socials, Barcelona
Xavier VallvéPaolo Leotti
Sweden Goteborg & Linkoping Universities
Christer ThorqvistProf Charles Woolfson
The research
• a review of academic and grey literature; • analysis of the available data on forced
labour and informal labour markets;• analysis of the context of forced labour as
perceived by government, employers and the media;
• a case study from each country.
Europe’s record
• “Conscious of its spiritual and moral heritage, the Union is founded on the indivisible universal values of human dignity, freedom, equality and solidarity” (Preamble to the European Union Charter of Fundamental Rights)
• ILO estimates 880,000 workers in Europe subject to forced labour (20% sexual exploitation, 70% labour exploitation) (ILO 2012)
Case studies
• Mobilising for regularisation of building workers in northern Italy
• Supporting struggle for pay of berry pickers in Sweden
• Litigation over status of seasonal agricultural workers in France
• Cross border prosecution of modelling agency in Latvia
Some findings
• European governments approach forced labour solely as element of trafficking. Immigration controls and punishing perpetrators take precedence over protecting employment or human rights of those subjected to forced labour
• Criminal sanctions may be deployed, but if this prevents or delays redress, workers may decline to participate in proceedings
• Lack of purposeful detection, illustrated by absence of excessive working hours acting as a trigger.