Updated 12 June 2023: Mayor of London: Mayor announces £750,000 new funding to support migrant workers as report reveals ‘shocking’ levels of exploitation
- New report commissioned by the Mayor of London uncovers shocking levels of bullying, racially motivated harassment, and exploitation of migrant workers consistent with modern slavery across London.
- Mayor confirms extension of funding for specialist advice and support services to ensure the most vulnerable migrant Londoners can access their rights – including protection from employment rights violation and exploitation.
- Sadiq urges Government to do more to ensure migrants access their rights, identify abuses, and have access to the support they need
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has today announced more than £750,000 additional funding to boost support for migrants in London and tackle the exploitation of migrant workers following a ‘shocking’ report which uncovered widespread abuse.
The new report, commissioned by City Hall, uncovers shocking levels of bullying, racially motivated harassment, and the exploitation of migrants in the workplace consistent with modern slavery.
This investment by the Mayor will support migrants in London with independent immigration advice and support services to help ensure they can access their rights, including protection from employment rights violation and exploitation.
First-hand accounts found in the ‘Rights and risks’* report which was compiled by The Young Foundation and Focus on Labour Exploitation found:
- Racial abuse of migrant workers with derogatory terms and slurs used
- Migrant workers interviewed experienced significant issues with pay with many receiving a lower rate than promised, incorrect deductions and unclear payslips
- Highly qualified migrant workers felt compelled to accept unskilled work with many working in those roles too afraid to speak up or seek formal support about their employee rights
The report, commissioned by the Mayor to better understand the struggles of migrants and to address the challenges they face, highlights the clear and urgent need to safeguard vulnerable migrant Londoners from abuse and exploitation.
*Link to full Rights and Risks Report – https://www.youngfoundation.org/our-work/publications/rights-and-risks-migrant-labour-exploitation-in-london/
+Mayor calls on Government to urgently rethink ‘cruel and unworkable’ Illegal Migration Bill https://www.london.gov.uk/media-centre/mayors-press-release/mayor-calls-on-government-to-urgently-rethink-cruel-and-unworkable-illegal-migration-bill
See also: The Young Foundation: Sadiq Khan, has today announced more than £750k additional funding
to tackle the exploitation of migrant workers, in response to our new report uncovering abuse of vulnerable Londoners.
Young Foundation, GLA and Flex: Rights and risks: migrant worker exploitation and the barriers to support
Event: 12 June 2023, 1:00pm – 2:30pm
Join The Young Foundation, Greater London Authority (GLA) and Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) at London’s City Hall for the launch of a new report, Rights and risks, exploring migrant workers’ experiences of exploitation and the challenges they face accessing support in London.
GLA will host this event and deliver a welcome speech. The report’s key findings and recommendations will also be shared by:
- Dr Alessandra Radicati, Senior Researcher at The Young Foundation
- a representative at Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX)
- peer researchers who led the research
- a representative from the advice sector
Exploring experiences of accessing employment rights advice for migrant Londoners, Rights and risks was commissioned by the Mayor of London and undertaken by The Young Foundation and FLEX, together with a team of peer researchers.