Diplomats abused trafficked staff on special UK work visas
February 25 2010 by Liam Clifford
Laws could be revised in light of allegations against diplomats.
The
special UK work visa for employees of diplomats may be revised in light of
recent allegations that a small number of diplomats are abusing their employees.
Under current laws, diplomats are immune from criminal prosecution. Campaigners
want the employees of diplomats to be given UK visas that allow them to work for
other employers. Currently their UK visas only allow them to work for
diplomats.
Tomorrow the Home Secretary Alan Johnson will be presented
with evidence of trafficking involving diplomats. Jenny Moss, community advocate
at Kalayaan, a charity working to prevent trafficking, said: “There is
significant evidence that migrant workers are being trafficked into the UK by
diplomats and are being abused and exploited.” Between April and December last
year, Kalayaan sent 22 cases of alleged trafficking of migrant workers to the
National Referral Mechanism, a Home Office scheme to tackle
trafficking.
The issue of trafficking was thrust into the spotlight last
week when a Saudi prince was charged with murdering his servant in London’s
exclusive Landmark Hotel.
If the UK work visa for employees of diplomats
was to be adjusted, they could escape unacceptable working conditions and take
employment elsewhere in the UK.
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