Migrants’ rights, Support for Refugees and Modern Slavery
Migrants’ Rights
The Migrants’ Rights Network
from migrantsrights.org.uk
We are a UK-based charity that works alongside migrants in their fight for rights and justice. We partner with individuals and organisations to challenge policy and legislation; build leadership and campaigning capacity in migrant communities; and raise awareness of migrants’ rights.
From the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority Website:
Your rights as a worker are protected by UK law.
Some rights take immediate effect, some are conditional on how long you work. The following information tells you what you should expect from your labour provider (employer). These are your employment rights.
You are entitled to:
- be paid the National Minimum Wage
- rest breaks and time off work
- paid holiday
- an itemised payslip
- fair and legal deductions from your wages
- a safe working environment
- sick pay
- a copy of your terms and conditions
More information is available on the GLA website (www.gla.gov.uk/i-am-a/i-am-a-worker/your-rights)
They have information on your rights as a worker available in 21 languages:
Support for Refugees
The Refugee Support Group helps refugees and asylum seekers to rebuild their lives. They run English classes and assist with accessing education, volunteering and employment.
www.refugeesupportgroup.org.uk/
Refugee Support Group
First Floor, RISC, 35-39
London Street, Reading,
RG1 4PS
Sanctuary Hosting is a hosting scheme that provides temporary accommodation for refugees, asylum seekers, and vulnerable migrants at risk of homelessness across Oxfordshire and Reading by matching them with volunteer hosts who offer a free bed and a warm welcome.
www.asylum-welcome.org/services/sanctuary-hosting/
Slough Refugee Support is a registered charity focused exclusively on the needs of refugees and asylum seekers.
www.sloughrefugeesupport.org.uk/
srsinfo@sloughrefugeesupport.org.uk
Slough Immigration Aid Unit (SIAU) is a charity giving specialist legal advice and representation in UK immigration, nationality and refugee law.
Refugee Support from Local Councils
Below is a link to the refugee support/advice page for each of the 6 local authorities in Berkshire:
Bracknell Forest Council Migration Support
Reading Borough Council Support for Refugees
Slough Borough Council Refugee Advice
West Berkshire Council Refugee and asylum seeker information and signposting advice
Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Resettlement in the Borough
Modern Slavery
The following has been shared with kind permission from Slough Borough Council:
What is modern slavery?
Modern slavery is one person (or a group of people) using another person for their own gain. It includes being sold for sex; kept somewhere as unpaid help; made to work for no money, or to work and give money to someone else; or being forced to commit crime for someone else. Modern slavery is a crime in the UK.
Who can be a victim?
Victims of modern slavery can be any age, gender, nationality or ethnicity. They are tricked or threatened and may feel unable to leave or report the crime through fear or intimidation. They may not recognise themselves as a victim. They may come from any country in the world, including the UK.
What has this got to do with working in a caring role?
Modern slavery can be found in many different industries in the UK. There have been cases of people who have come to work in the care industry who were experiencing modern slavery. All those responsible for employing staff should understand the signs of modern slavery and make the relevant checks on all workers.
If you are concerned that you may be a victim of modern slavery then ask yourself the following questions:
Do you have access to your identity papers and/or passport?
Can you access your bank account and wages when you want?
Are you able to contact your family and friends when you want to?
Has anyone made threats to you or forced you to take this job?
If you wanted to leave this job, or where you are living, would anyone stop you?
If you have answered “no” to any of the first three questions, or “yes” to either of the last two questions, then there may be reason to be concerned about your welfare. Please contact Unseen confidentially using the details below.
Unseen
From unseenuk.org
Unseen is a UK charity with its head office in Bristol. We provide safehouses and support in the community for survivors of trafficking and modern slavery. We also run the UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline and work with individuals, communities, business, governments, other charities and statutory agencies to stamp out slavery for good.
The Unseen App was released to make reporting to the Helpline even easier. The App provides a simple guide to recognising the signs of modern slavery and reporting concerns in confidence to free more victims of slavery. The app was developed for Unseen by the Helpline’s founding partner BT and can be found by searching ‘Unseen UK’ in app stores now.
You can also call the Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700.