“We Are Not Disposable”: Mimi’s Call for Justice and Dignity for All Migrant Workers
- thevoiceofdomesticworkers
- Jul 18
- 3 min read
At a recent conference that brought together voices from across the labor movement, Mimi stood before the crowd—not just to speak, but to shake the very foundations of a system built on silence and suffering.
Mimi is a domestic worker, a survivor of trafficking, and a proud member of The Voice of Domestic Workers and the London Eastern Domestic Workers Branch. Speaking for the first time at a union conference, her voice carried not just her story—but the stories of thousands of migrant women across the UK and beyond.
Speaking from Pain, Not Theory
“I am not speaking from theory,” Mimi declared. “I am speaking from pain. From lived experience. From a place many of us know too well.”
Her words were raw and honest. Mimi gave the audience a glimpse into a reality that too many overlook—the reality of living under a restrictive visa as a domestic worker. In the UK, many domestic workers arrive on seasonal or temporary visas that leave them vulnerable to exploitation, abuse, and isolation. Mimi's speech wasn't abstract. It was urgent. It was real.
The Cost of Survival Under the UK’s Hostile Environment
“This kind of immigration status does not just limit our rights at work. It breaks our spirit. It steals our dignity. It keeps us surviving. But we are never truly living.”
Under her visa conditions, Mimi is not allowed to change employers freely—even when faced with abuse, threats, or months of unpaid work. Walking away means risking detention or deportation. She, like many others, remains trapped by fear and legal uncertainty.
“We are silenced not by choice, but by the system.”
And it’s not just at work. Mimi spoke of being excluded from public funds, basic services, and even healthcare. Illness means hesitation, not healing. She pushes through pain because the price of seeking care may be too high.
Families Torn Apart
Mimi is also a mother. Like many migrant domestic workers, she left her children behind in search of a better future for them. But the cost is immense:
“I miss their birthdays, their first steps, their tears. We are mothers. We are sisters. We are daughters. Yet we are denied the right to be with the people we love most.”
This enforced separation is a quiet cruelty that breaks hearts and families. The emotional toll is invisible to the public—but ever-present in Mimi’s life.
A Broken System for All Low-Wage Migrant Workers
What Mimi endures is not unique to domestic workers. She powerfully linked her experience to those of workers in farms, care homes, restaurants, and hotels—also stuck in similar exploitative visa routes.
“These visa routes may serve the economy, but they leave workers exposed, voiceless, and expendable.”
The system treats migrant workers as labor units, not human beings. And when these workers speak up, they risk everything.
A Call for Justice, Not Just Reform
Mimi stood firm in her support for Motion 21—calling for protections for workers on temporary visas. But more than a policy, she called for a shift in values:
Immigration policies that protect people, not punish them
Systems that value humanity over profit
The right to work without fear of abuse or deportation
Recognition, rights, and respect for domestic workers
“We deserve to be safe. We deserve to be seen. We deserve better.”
In Her Words, A Movement
Mimi’s speech is more than testimony. It is a rallying cry—a voice that challenges trade unions, policymakers, and the public to act. To recognize the care that domestic workers give. To value their labor. And to ensure that no one is treated as disposable, invisible, or voiceless.
Join Us in the Fight
The Voice of Domestic Workers continues to campaign for rights, safety, and justice for all migrant domestic workers. Mimi’s voice is one of many. Together, we demand:
End tied visa systems
Access to public services and healthcare
The right to change employers freely
Family reunification and the right to stay
Full labor rights for all migrant workers
Stand with Mimi. Stand with us. Let’s make sure no worker is left behind.
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