The minimum wage does not apply to live-in nanny and nanny, which allows employers to abuse and exploit these workers
This week, the Low Pay Committee (LPC) Respected The government cancels the current exemption, which means that residential childcare workers do not have to pay the minimum wage. For workers who have always opposed this law that allows abuse and exploitation, this is a huge victory.All summer, members Nanny Unity Network (NSN), a grassroots organization led by workers, submitted evidence to the Low Salary Committee regarding their exemption experience, and Voice of domestic workers with free.
this ‘The “domestic worker exemption” in Section 3 of the “National Minimum Wage Act” applies to those who live with the employer and “Are considered family members”. These workers are not paid the minimum wage ‘Pocket money’-usually around 70 to 85 pounds a week. They have no health and safety protection, no working time limit, and no legal rights to vacation or vacation.
Historically, Au Pairs have been regarded as ‘Cultural exchange” is an interesting way for young European women to travel and learn English. Testimony from NSN members reveals a different reality: an invisible and exploited group of immigrant women, often unable to report abuse due to fear of being deported Behaviors, and are totally dependent on employers because they cannot enter the national safety net.
replace ‘In addition to learning, there are also light housework and child-care work. The workers describe the long and heavy housework, and there is almost no time to learn:
“In our previous phone call, she told me that I would ‘Help the children. On the first Monday, I was told to clean all 11 rooms in the house. I used to work about 12 hours a day. “
“My mother did not allow me to go to my English class on Thursday because she received treatment. Dad is at home all day, but every Thursday she makes me miss my class. ”
“When I asked to arrange a rotation for my schedule, she said she could not give it to me because she is a freelancer and her job is flexible. I live so far away from London that I can’t afford a train ticket to take my course. ”
also ‘With pocket money’, the aupair is expected to get free accommodation and meals. In terms of food, many workers do not welcome sharing meals with their host families, so they often go hungry. In terms of accommodation, many people put a mattress on the floor or want to share a room with children:
“I remember that I had to put potato chips and other snacks in my room because I didn’t like staying for dinner. I often go to bed hungry. ”
“Parents want to have ‘The alone time at night means that I am not allowed to enter the kitchen, so I cannot cook dinner by myself after the shift. “
“I’m not invited to have Christmas dinner at Christmas, it’s like ‘Well, I’m in your house, I’m a Protestant, so this is very important to me’… I feel very depressed. “
It is difficult to prove that any of these workers did not ‘Are considered family members.A sort of Sue in court The 2012 case clarified “The concept of being included as a family member does not need to be treated the same as the family.” In addition, testing whether workers ‘It doesn’t make sense to treat like family, because there’s never ‘Equal treatment within the family”. The home is still a place of abuse ( third Of women have experienced domestic violence) and exploitation (because women still bear a disproportionate responsibility for domestic violence) Unpaid labor Housework and parenting).
The government should eliminate laws designed to protect these gender and ethnic exploitation systems by excluding certain workers from national labor standards such as the minimum wage. In addition to canceling the exemption as recommended by the LPC, ‘Crime of illegal work It should also be abolished. The law criminalizes the employment of immigrants who stay in the UK without permission or whose visas do not allow them to work. This means that immigrants cannot report abuse or exploitation, nor can they obtain the same basic rights and protections (including minimum wages) as their colleagues.
Minister of commerce, energy and industrial strategy debate Exemptions are necessary to support parents who wish to return to work but cannot afford alternative childcare.Instead of correct Funding public services, Our economic system relies on the exploitation and deprivation of women of color and immigrant women to fill the gaps in our care infrastructure. Letting parents and childcare workers confront each other is a cynical attempt to eliminate the government failure that is causing the current childcare crisis. Grassroots groups and unions representing paid and unpaid caregivers must work together to resolve the same system that devalues care.
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