Reclaiming My Life as a Domestic Worker By Arlene

One achievement this year stands above all others, something I hold close to my heart with deep pride. Reclaiming my legal status and my sense of self. With the guidance, patience, and unwavering support of The Voice of Domestic Workers (VODW), I was finally able to restore my status after years of living in uncertainty. This moment did not come easily, it was earned through survival, endurance, and an unbreakable hope that refused to die.

When I look back on nearly seven years of hardship, I realize just how much I have carried. I returned from Saudi Arabia full of hope, believing that my sacrifices would lead to a better future for my family. I had dreams, simple but powerful dreams of stability, dignity, and security. But life took a different path. Things did not unfold as I had imagined, and instead, I found myself facing challenges I never anticipated.

Still, I endured. I endured because I held onto my dreams, even when they felt distant and fragile. I followed my instincts, knowing that not trying would haunt me more than failure ever could. Fear walked beside me every day, but I chose courage. Joining VODW was a leap of faith, a decision rooted in hope that this community could help me break down the walls of fear and isolation I had built around myself to survive.

Living undocumented in the UK for seven years was one of the most painful chapters of my life. I lived in the shadows, constantly afraid of being seen, judged, or discovered. I faced discrimination and exclusion, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, I risked my life simply by existing, without proof of identity, without knowledge of my rights, and without access to support. I hid for so long that fear became part of my daily routine. The trauma I endured still lives in my body and mind.

My wounds have not fully healed. Even now, I struggle in crowded spaces. I tried counseling, hoping it would help, but opening up to strangers and reliving my experiences feels overwhelming. Passing the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) gave me a sense of recognition and belonging, yet the uncertainty around my right to work and provide for myself continued to weigh heavily on me. That uncertainty fed my anxiety and depression, reminding me daily how fragile my situation still was.

And yet, despite everything, I reached a moment I never thought would come. I reclaimed my life. Receiving my domestic worker visa was not just a legal achievement; it was an emotional and personal victory. It meant being seen. It meant being acknowledged. It meant stepping out of the shadows after years of fear. For the first time in a long time, I felt proud of myself, not just for surviving, but for continuing to fight.

But the journey is not over. I ask myself, and I ask the system. Is a two-year visa enough? We are still fighting for our rights as domestic workers. We are still demanding fair treatment, security, and recognition equal to other workers in the UK. Temporary permission does not erase years of trauma or guarantee a safe future.

Domestic workers are the backbone of countless families. We may not wear uniforms, but we carry immense responsibility. We care for homes, children, and elderly loved ones with dedication, compassion, and respect. Families place their trust in us, yet too often our work is undervalued and our rights ignored.

Still, we remain hopeful. We remain prayerful. We continue to raise our voices and stand together, believing that one day the government will truly recognize our worth. Domestic workers are workers. We deserve dignity, respect, and fairness not as a privilege, but as a right.

This year, my greatest achievement is not just a visa. It is the courage to keep going, the strength to reclaim my life, and the hope that our collective fight will lead to lasting justice for all domestic workers.

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