Why Settlement Rights Are Crucial for Domestic Workers Safety and Dignity By Norhaya

As domestic workers who have endured abuse and exploitation from employers abroad, we ask you to truly hear our voices. We are not asking for charity. We are not asking for handouts. We are asking for settlement, for the legal recognition and protection that allows us to live without fear, to work without exploitation, and to rebuild our lives with dignity, security, and hope.

We did not come to the UK to take advantage of financial assistance. We came seeking safety, fairness, and the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to society. We came hoping to live lives where our work is respected, where we are protected under the law, and where the sacrifices we make for families are acknowledged with the stability we deserve. We are here, ready to follow the UK system faithfully. All we ask is a chance to live and work without fear.

Why Settlement Is Vital for Domestic Workers

Settlement is far more than a legal term. For us, it represents stability and security, the ability to plan for the future without the constant shadow of uncertainty. It grants us the right to work legally without fearing that our visa status could be revoked at any moment. It protects us from exploitation and abuse, allowing us to stand up for ourselves and assert our rights.

With settlement, domestic workers can access essential services like healthcare and banking, which are not just conveniences, they are lifelines. Settlement safeguards our mental health, restores our dignity, and gives us the confidence to participate fully in society. It allows us to contribute to the economy, to pay taxes, and to live as responsible, law-abiding members of the communities we serve.

Most importantly, it gives us hope, hope that our hard work, loyalty, and sacrifices are valued, not just tolerated.

A Plea for Recognition and Respect

We dedicate ourselves every day to caring for your children, supporting your families, and keeping your homes running smoothly. We do this with love, patience, and commitment, often going above and beyond what is asked of us. Yet, despite our devotion, we are only granted two-year visas. This leaves us in a constant state of uncertainty, never fully safe, never fully secure, never fully able to plan our lives.

Why should our years of dedication, our sacrifices, and our hard work not entitle us to permanent settlement? Why should we continue to live under fear when all we want is the basic right to safety, dignity, and the ability to rebuild our lives after suffering?

Settlement is not a favor, it is our right. It is the acknowledgment that domestic workers are more than temporary labor. We are human beings who contribute daily, not just to households, but to society as a whole. Providing settlement is not just an act of generosity; it is an act of justice.

We ask the government, policymakers, and the public to hear us. Recognize our labor, respect our dignity, and grant domestic workers the security and stability that settlement provides. We are not asking for more than fairness. We are asking for a chance to live and work in peace, free from abuse, and with the hope of a future that reflects the sacrifices we make today.

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