I am Mimi Jalmasco, Secretary of the Domestic Workers Branch in Unite the Union and Trustee of The Voice of Domestic Workers. I am a domestic worker myself, with lived experience of the struggles that thousands of women face every day in private households across the UK.
Today, as we celebrate International Women’s Day, I want to honour the strength, resilience, and courage of women—especially migrant domestic workers who are often invisible, unheard, and undervalued.
We leave our homes, families, and even our children, hoping to provide them with a better future. We dream of sending money back home, of building a better life. But instead of finding opportunity, many of us are trapped in exploitative working conditions—long hours, low wages, and in some cases, physical, emotional, and even sexual abuse.
Imagine working from sunrise to late at night, with no breaks, no days off, and being paid a pittance. Imagine being locked in a house, your passport taken away, your freedom stolen. Imagine the constant fear of being sent back home, empty-handed, after enduring so much.
Many are denied their basic rights, living in fear of retaliation if they speak out. They are told they are lucky to have a job, that they should be grateful. But we are not grateful for exploitation. We are not grateful for abuse.
This is not just an individual problem, it is systemic. The UK government’s immigration policies have made things worse, tying domestic workers to their employers under the Overseas Domestic Worker visa, stripping them of their rights, and making it almost impossible for them to escape abuse. This visa is a chain that binds us to our abusers, a tool of modern-day slavery.
For those who do manage to escape, the question is: where do they go? Who protects them?
The government’s answer is the National Referral Mechanism (NRM), the official system for identifying and supporting victims of modern slavery. But in reality, the NRM is failing migrant domestic workers. It is slow, complex, and leaves workers in limbo for years, and some are unable to work while they wait for a decision.
I have seen women wait for years, their lives on hold, their hopes dwindling, their mental health deteriorating. This pushes them further into vulnerability, poverty, and, in many cases, re-exploitation.
Instead of being a pathway to safety, the NRM has become a trap. Instead of offering justice, it prolongs our suffering. We are treated as numbers, as cases, not as human beings who have endured unimaginable trauma.
The Voice of Domestic Workers (VODW) is a self-help group created by and for migrant domestic workers to support, empower, and fight for our rights. We provide a welcoming and supportive environment where domestic workers can share their experiences, seek help, and connect with others. We are a family, a community, a lifeline.
We offer classes in English, IT, and financial literacy to help workers improve their skills, gain independence, and create better opportunities for themselves. We believe in empowering ourselves.For those who have escaped abusive situations, we provide urgent help such as shelter, food, and legal support to ensure their safety and well-being. We are there for each other in our darkest hours.
We work to change unfair policies by pushing the government to restore the rights of domestic workers and end exploitation. We are a force for change. We make sure that the public, policymakers, and trade unions understand the struggles of domestic workers, so they can support our cause. We are raising our voices.
Through organising, campaigning, and collective action, we have built a movement that refuses to be silenced. But we cannot do this alone.
As Domestic Workers Branch Secretary, I call on Unite the Union to stand firmly with us in our fight. We need; Stronger Political Lobbying where we demand real policy change, including The ratification of ILO Convention 189 (C189), which sets global standards for fair wages, decent working hours, and protection from abuse for domestic workers. The UK must recognize domestic work as real work and grant full rights and protections. Ending the tied visa, which forces domestic workers to remain with abusive employers or risk losing their legal status. This is not just a policy; it's a matter of life and death.
Fixing the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) so that it truly supports and protects victims of modern slavery, rather than putting them through a long and difficult process. We need swift action, not endless bureaucracy.
We need Legal Support and Protection wherein Domestic workers need better access to lawyers and legal help. This support should cover immigration issues, unfair treatment at work, and access to financial assistance when needed.
We need justice, not empty promises.We also need to outreach and organise, many domestic workers don’t know their rights or feel alone. We must find them, educate them, and invite them to join our movement so we can fight together for better conditions. We need to build our strength in numbers. We need Recognition and Dignity, domestic work is real work and should be treated with the same respect as any other job. We deserve fair pay, good working conditions, and acknowledgment for our important role in society. We are not invisible. We are not disposable.
On this International Women’s Day, let us remember that true empowerment is not just about celebrating success—it is about lifting those who are still struggling. Migrant domestic workers are the backbone of many households, enabling others to work while we care for their families. But who cares for us?
Justice for migrant domestic workers is justice for all women. Because when the most vulnerable among us win rights and dignity, we all move forward together.
We are not just workers—we are women, we are mothers, we are sisters, we are fighters, and we will not be silent.
Join Us in Supporting Migrant Domestic Workers Escaping Abuse
Migrant domestic workers who have fled abusive employment urgently need your help. They’ve left behind exploitation and are taking brave steps toward safety—but they need support for basic needs like shelter, food, clothing, and counseling.
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Every contribution, no matter the size, helps us provide essentials, temporary housing, job training, and emotional support. Together, we can offer a lifeline to those starting over.
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