The Greater London Authority (GLA) is currently working to coordinate and strengthen the Mayor’s work to protect the rights of migrant workers in London, who are particularly at risk of experiencing abuse and exploitation at work.
As part of this work, the GLA has commissioned a new research project with The Young Foundation and FLEX to gain an understanding of the lived experience of migrants in London and the support and advice services on offer to them. The insights gained will be used to develop a strategy to improve access to these services for migrant workers experiencing abuse and exploitation. The project will be drawing together data on current service provision, the challenges facing support and advice organisations, along with the needs and experiences of migrant workers themselves.
Through the course of the project, six Londoners from migrant backgrounds will be trained as peer researchers, helping to reach and share the voices of migrant workers at risk.
If you are an organisation providing support and advice services to migrant workers, you can help by taking part in our survey. It will only take 10 minutes to complete and is open until 13 January 2023.
Victoria Boelman, Director of Research at The Young Foundation, said: “Migrant workers are disproportionately found in precarious, low-paid, and unregulated work – including in sectors such as cleaning and domestic work, construction, food processing, hospitality, the beauty industry, and the gig economy, where levels of exploitation and abuse tend to be higher. Often migrant workers face extra challenges including a lack of understanding about labour laws in the UK and language barriers. For the most vulnerable, reporting labour abuse could mean risking not only their employment but also their visa status and right to remain in the UK. It is essential that we gain a better understanding of the needs of this group and develop a clear approach to increasing and improving access to advice and support.”
If you have any questions about the project, please contact peerresearch@youngfoundation.org.
Community Community needs & priorities Community wellbeing Education & Employment Health & wellbeing Health and Wellbeing Inequality Peer research employment exploitation labour laws migrants peer research Peer Research Network research right to work visa workers rights Posted on: 21 December 2022