Support Amendment NC8: Stronger Rights for Migrant Domestic Workers
Migrant domestic workers care for children, support older people and keep households running. They deserve safe working conditions and the freedom to leave abuse.
Amendment NC8 to the Immigration and Asylum Bill 2026 proposes reforms to domestic worker visas to help prevent exploitation and modern slavery.
At The Voice of Domestic Workers, we support protections that give workers practical choices, dignity and greater security.
Why is Amendment NC8 important?
Kalayaan’s briefing highlights how restrictive visa conditions can make it difficult for migrant domestic workers to escape exploitation.
A worker may depend on their employer for both employment and accommodation. If they experience abuse, having limited time remaining on their visa can make finding another job and seeking help especially difficult.
Kalayaan argues that workers need more than information about their rights. They need immigration conditions that allow them to leave unsafe employment and challenge mistreatment.
What would NC8 mean in everyday terms?
The proposed amendment covers domestic worker and diplomatic domestic worker visas.
Proposed change | What it would mean |
Change employers within the same work sector | Workers could move to another employer, with the change registered with the Home Office. |
Renew visas for at least 12 months at a time | Workers could continue renewing their visas while meeting the employment and financial conditions. |
Apply for partners and children to join them | Permission would be linked to the worker’s visa duration and subsequent renewals. |
Settlement after five continuous years | The proposal provides for indefinite leave to remain after five continuous years of UK residence. |
Switch to another eligible work visa | Workers could move to another work visa route if they meet its requirements. |
These are proposed changes. The amendment text should not be read as confirmation that these rights are already in force.
What Kalayaan’s briefing tells us
Kalayaan’s briefing explains why the campaign connects visa reform with preventing exploitation.
Leaving abuse requires a realistic alternative
Being allowed to change employers offers limited protection if a worker has very little time left to secure another job. Kalayaan argues that renewable visas would make leaving an abusive employer a more practical option.
Rights must be usable
Workers may struggle to challenge unpaid wages or other mistreatment when they fear losing their job, accommodation or ability to remain in the country. The briefing calls for conditions that make seeking help more realistic.
Prevention matters
Kalayaan advocates changes that reduce vulnerability before abuse escalates. Its position is that support after serious harm occurs must be accompanied by measures that help workers avoid becoming trapped in exploitation.
This is an independently written summary. Kalayaan’s full briefing contains the supporting evidence, historical background and detailed campaign arguments.
Amendment NC8: parliamentary wording
The following amendment text and explanatory statement are reproduced from the parliamentary wording supplied for this article.
Amendment text
To move the following Clause—
“Amendments to rules for overseas domestic workers(1) For the purposes of preventing situations of modern slavery and reducing the risk of exploitation for migrant domestic workers in the UK, the Secretary of State must, within three months of the passing of this Act, make such changes to the Immigration Rules and any other rules or regulations governing domestic worker and diplomatic domestic worker visas as may be necessary to meet the requirements of subsection (2).(2) Holders of a domestic worker or diplomatic domestic worker visa must be able to—(a) change employer (but not worker sector) without restriction, with such changes registered with the Home Office;(b) renew indefinitely an existing domestic worker or diplomatic domestic worker visa for a period of not less than 12 months, provided that they are in employment permitted by their visa at the date of application and are able to support themselves (and any spouse, partner or children) without recourse to public funds;(c) apply for leave to enter and remain in the United Kingdom for their spouse or partner and any child under the age of 18 for a period equivalent to the unexpired period of their visa and of any subsequent visa;(d) be granted indefinite leave to remain after five continuous years of residence in the United Kingdom; and(e) switch to a different work visa (including but not limited to the Skilled Worker visa) where they meet that visa’s eligibility requirements.(3) For the purposes of this section, “the Immigration Rules” means rules laid before Parliament under section 3(2) of the Immigration Act 1971.”
Member’s explanatory statement
This new clause would require the Secretary of State to make amendments to the existing rules regarding people with domestic worker or diplomatic domestic worker visas for the purposes of preventing situations of modern slavery, including by enabling them to change employer and renew their worker visas.
In simple terms, the amendment would require changes to the visa rules within three months of the Act passing, with the aim of giving workers more options to leave exploitation.
MPs supporting Amendment NC8
The sponsor information supplied for this article identifies Tulip Siddiq, Labour MP for Hampstead and Highgate, alongside these 12 MPs:
Sponsor | Party | Constituency |
Mr Paul Kohler | Liberal Democrat | Wimbledon |
Ms Stella Creasy | Labour | Walthamstow |
Sean Woodcock | Labour | Banbury |
Tony Vaughan | Labour | Folkestone and Hythe |
Dr Allison Gardner | Labour | Stoke-on-Trent South |
Siân Berry | Green Party | Brighton Pavilion |
Dr Ellie Chowns | Green Party | North Herefordshire |
Carla Denyer | Green Party | Bristol Central |
Adrian Ramsay | Green Party | Waveney Valley |
Hannah Spencer | Green Party | Gorton and Denton |
Janet Daby | Labour | Lewisham East |
Jeremy Corbyn | Your Party | Islington North |
Visit Parliament’s amendment page for the latest sponsor list and parliamentary information.
How you can support migrant domestic workers
Read the proposal, explore the evidence and help bring this issue to your MP’s attention.
Read Kalayaan’s briefing →KALAYAAN PDF LINK to understand the background and evidence.
View Amendment NC8 on Parliament’s website → to read the proposal and check updates.
Find and contact your MP → to ask them to support Amendment NC8.
Domestic workers deserve safety, dignity and the freedom to leave abuse. Support Amendment NC8.
Sources: UK Parliament, Amendment NC8; Kalayaan, “Immigration & Asylum Bill 2026: Amendment NC8 — The Overseas Domestic Worker visa.” The overview of Kalayaan’s briefing is written in original wording; the parliamentary amendment and explanatory statement are reproduced above with attribution.
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.
"With your donation, we can provide immediate relief and a pathway to rebuilding lives in dignity and safety."
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.
Donate today to make an impact and be a part of their journey to freedom, recovery, and empowerment.
Comments