The Fight Isn’t Over Migrant Domestic Workers and the Struggle for Rights
- thevoiceofdomesticworkers
- 20 minutes ago
- 3 min read
By: Education Working Group, The Voice of Domestic Workers
Over 100 years ago, women in the UK weren’t allowed to vote. They were told their voices didn’t matter in politics, that they belonged in the home, not in the decisions that shaped the country. But the suffragettes refused to accept this. They marched, protested, risked their safety, and endured imprisonment—all to demand one simple thing: the right to have a say in their own future. Because of their courage, women today can vote.
But history has a way of repeating itself.
Today, there’s another group of women whose voices are ignored: migrant domestic workers. We live and work in the UK, caring for families, cleaning homes, and doing the work that keeps households running smoothly. Our contributions are undeniable, yet we are treated as if we don’t belong. Unlike other workers, we have no legal protections, no guaranteed rights, and no ability to challenge unfair or abusive conditions. And just like the women of the past, we are denied the right to vote—despite being part of other communities we serve.
When you have no voice, you have no power.
For those of us trapped in abusive conditions, the National Referral Mechanism (NRM)—the UK’s system meant to support victims of modern slavery—should offer safety. Instead, it pushes us further into uncertainty. Cases take years, leaving us in limbo, unable to work, unable to move forward. Some of us flee from abuse only to find ourselves homeless or facing deportation. And even when we are finally recognized as victims, most of us are still not given the right to stay and rebuild our lives.
How is this justice? How is this protection?
The suffragettes knew that being excluded from voting meant being excluded from society. The same is true for us migrant domestic workers today. When you have no political voice, you are easier to exploit. When you have no legal protections, you are left vulnerable to abuse. And when you have no way to participate in decisions that affect your life, you are treated as if you don’t matter. But we do matter! We are workers, we are community members, and we deserve the same rights as everyone else.
The fight for democracy continues through initiatives like the Migrant Democracy Project, which calls for the right to vote for all migrants. The principle is simple: if you live and work in a country, you should have a say in how it is run. The suffragettes fought for this idea, and now, migrant domestic workers are fighting for it too. The struggle is different, but the demand is the same—fairness, justice, and recognition.
As part of the Education Working Group of The Voice of Domestic Workers, we believe in the power of history to inspire change. That’s why our member, Dimple, is stepping into the shoes of the past by portraying a suffragette in the last Ms The Voice of Domestic Workers 2025, a raising awareness pageant. Her costume is more than just a tribute; it is a reminder that the battle for rights is ongoing. The women before us fought so that we could have a voice. Now, it’s our turn to fight.
Do not appeal, do not beg, do not grovel. As a migrant domestic worker, I know my worth. Take courage, join hands, stand beside us, and fight for the rights, dignity, and fair treatment we all deserve.” - Dimple
The suffragettes won their fight. Migrant domestic workers can win theirs too. But change doesn’t happen without people speaking up, standing together, and demanding justice.
When we fight for rights, we fight for a better future—for everyone.
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