Catholic peer Lord Hylton has voiced concern that foreign domestic workers remain “open to abuse and exploitation” despite the passage of the Modern Slavery Act, which received Royal Assent today.
Lord Hylton tabled an amendment in the House of Lords earlier this month that would have enabled poorly-paid foreign domestic workers to leave their employers without facing deportation. It was rejected when the bill returned to the Commons on 17 March by MPs led by the Modern Slavery Minister, Karen Bradley, who said shewould propose additional protections for overseas domestic workers who fall victim of slavery.
Cardinal Vincent Nichols, who with the Home Secretary Theresa May has brought together clerics and police from around the world to devise strategies to combat people trafficking, this morning welcomed the bill receiving Royal Assent.
He added: “While no Act can cover everything in the serious criminal activity of human trafficking and modernslavery, which abuses vulnerable people, the enhanced support and protection for victims is particularly to be welcomed.”
The cardinal praised Ms May, saying: “I pay tribute to her personal commitment to rid our society of this scourge [of modern slavery] and the support she has given to all those who seek to combat the traffickers and to care for the victims of trafficking.”
Lord Hylton told The Tablet that he welcomed the Act, and said that “it should lead to stronger action against trafficking of people and other kinds of slavery.” But he added: “The Overseas Domestic Worker Visa, which ties domestics to a single employer, still, however leaves them open to abuse and exploitation.”
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