Saharah’s Speech: Untapping a Power at the House of Lords

Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Saharah, and I’m a survivor of modern slavery and

trafficking.

I’m deeply grateful to be here today and to have the chance to share my story. More importantly, I speak not just for myself, but for so many other survivors who don’t always get the opportunity to be heard.

None of us chose this path.

We did not choose to be trafficked or exploited.

We did not choose to be separated from our families—some of us for years, others for decades.

But despite the pain and hardship we’ve endured, we are more than our trauma.

We are strong, capable individuals with the will and the skills to contribute to the society we now call home.

Many of us held degrees and professional qualifications in our home countries. We were teachers, nurses, office workers. But here in the UK, we are often unable to use those skills because of our immigration status and lack of legal work rights.

When we find ourselves in this situation, we’re left with only two real options:

The first is survival.

We do whatever it takes to keep going—to feed ourselves and send support back home. But doing so without the legal right to work puts us in danger. It leaves us vulnerable to being re-exploited and abused—again.

This happens in part because 99% of migrant domestic workers (MDWs) are unaware of the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). Most of us come from countries where systems like this

don’t exist. Even when we do reach out for help, many are refused support or denied the right to work.

The second option is one that empowers us:

To be allowed to work legally, to become net contributors to this country—not just through taxes, but through the care, dedication, and experience we bring to our work. This would give us the chance to rebuild our lives, to move forward with dignity, and to break free from uncertainty.

Being able to work legally would allow us to plan for the future, to attend job interviews, and to take steps toward a stable and secure life—not just for ourselves, but for our families too.

That’s why we are calling on the government to take action.

Our recommendations are clear and achievable:

1. We urge the Home Office to make decisions regarding trafficking and modern slavery cases in a more timely manner.

2. We ask for the right to work for migrant domestic workers who are going through the NRM process.

3. We ask for the right to change employers and renew our visas, so we are not trapped in exploitative situations.

4. We call for the extension of working-time regulations to domestic workers. Right

now, domestic workers are excluded from this law. That means some are forced to work more than 48 hours a week, without rest or balance—denying them a family life and risking their physical and mental health.

We are not asking for special treatment. We are asking for fairness, dignity, and the opportunity

to rebuild our lives and contribute to society.

Thank you for listening—and for standing with us.

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