Branch Chair Georgina Velasco and Secretary Mimi Jalmasco Share Insights from EFFAT Conference

by Mimi Jalmasco and Georgina Velasco

Reflection by Mimi Jalmasco, Branch Secretary

Attending the EFFAT Conference alongside our Chair, Georgina Velasco, and Regional Officer, Janet McLeod, was both an educational and deeply affirming experience for me as a domestic worker and as Branch Secretary of UNITE’s Domestic Workers Branch. The conference brought together voices from across Europe who share our struggles, our hopes, and our determination to secure real recognition and rights for domestic workers.

What struck me most throughout the discussions was how universal our experiences are, regardless of geography. The challenges faced by domestic workers in the Netherlands, lack of formal rights, political hesitation, and the invisibility created by work inside private homes, echo so strongly with the realities we face in the UK. It reminded me powerfully that our fight is not isolated; it is part of a global struggle for equality, dignity, and justice.

I was particularly moved by the conversations around the care economy and the question, Who do you see? For many years, domestic work has been undervalued, spoken about as “help” rather than as the skilled care labour it truly is. Hearing delegates' push for a shift in mindset from “cleaning” to “caring” was encouraging and aligned closely with what we in the UK have long been advocating. Domestic workers are essential contributors to the well-being of families and communities, and our work deserves proper recognition, fair pay, and full legal protections.

The discussions on personal and professional boundaries in domestic work resonated deeply with me. Domestic workers operate inside private homes, navigating intimate family spaces, yet this closeness does not translate into protection. Instead, it often becomes a shield that hides exploitation from public view. For undocumented workers, this vulnerability is even greater. Their fear of criminalisation makes it nearly impossible to report abuse, trapping many in cycles of harm. It reinforced my belief that our union must continue fighting for all workers documented or undocumented and that compassion and solidarity must remain central to organising.

A key moment of reflection for me during the conference was confronting the reality of modern slavery in the UK domestic work sector. Unlike many of our European colleagues, domestic workers in the UK are uniquely affected by the tied visa system, which binds migrant domestic workers to a single employer. This policy has led to widespread exploitation: long hours without rest, withheld wages, confiscated passports, and workers trapped inside households with no safe avenue to escape abuse. Many who manage to flee become undocumented as a result, not because they intended to break the law, but because escaping abuse leaves them without immigration options. Hearing similar stories from other countries reinforced for me how urgent and necessary our advocacy is here in the UK. No worker should be made so vulnerable that exploitation becomes almost inevitable.

Unionisation was another powerful theme throughout the conference. Listening to how other unions organise domestic workers reminded me of the crucial role we play here in the UK. Our branch empowers workers through rights education, collective organising, and campaigns to end the tied visa system. We continue to build alliances, including with “dignified employers,” who recognise that fair treatment must be the standard, not the exception.

The global perspective shared at the conference made it clear that, despite some legislative wins internationally, there remains a significant gap between rights on paper and the real lived experiences of domestic workers. Recognising the home as a workplace, ensuring labour inspections, and formalising the sector are essential steps toward meaningful protections. These insights strengthened my commitment to our mission and reminded me why our branch’s work is so vital, especially as we continue to confront modern slavery here in the UK.

Overall, the conference left me inspired, motivated, and more determined than ever to continue advocating for dignity, safety, and justice for domestic workers. I am grateful for the solidarity shown by colleagues across Europe, and I return to our branch with renewed energy to push forward the work we have begun, for our members, for migrant workers living in vulnerability, for survivors of modern slavery, and for the generations of domestic workers who will come after us.

Reflection by Georgina Velasco, Branch Chair

My reflection on migrant domestic workers in the Netherlands is one of deep respect. I met a small group of undocumented migrant domestic workers, and they showed remarkable courage in standing up for their employment rights. I applaud their bravery and determination to speak out, even in a system that does not fully recognise them.

At present, the Dutch government appears to be doing very little, perhaps for political reasons, because domestic work is still not officially acknowledged as decent work. This lack of recognition sends a harmful message: that the labour of domestic workers is invisible or unimportant. Yet the reality is the opposite.

Without migrant workers, many households would struggle. Parents could not go to work if no one were there to care for their children or support their elderly family members. Homes could not function without the cleaning, cooking, and daily tasks that migrant domestic workers perform. Domestic work is highly skilled, deeply responsible, and truly multitasking in nature.

It is my hope that governments across Europe, including the Netherlands, will soon recognise this truth. They must acknowledge that migrant domestic workers are essential to society and that their rights must be protected, respected, and upheld.

Solidarity across Europe is vital. Domestic workers need unity—from unions, organisations, and the workers themselves—to push for fair treatment, decent working conditions, and proper legal recognition. The challenges we see in the Netherlands mirror those we face here in the UK. The problems are not isolated; they are part of a wider European issue, where domestic workers are undervalued and often excluded from labour protections.

But together, through solidarity and collective action, domestic workers can continue to raise their voices and demand the dignity and rights they deserve.

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