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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · 5d

📢 Vacancy closing soon! We are recruiting a Director of Operations at FLEX

If you’re passionate about building strong teams and systems that drive social justice, have a look 👇

Deadline: Monday 6 October 2025 (midday).

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Sep 8

OPPORTUNITY:

We are recruiting a Director of Operations, to lead the development and smooth running of the systems, processes, and culture that enables FLEX to deliver its mission effectively.

For more details on the role and how to apply, go to: labourexploitation.org/about-us/opp...

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · 6d

It’s a real failing when even those who’ve battled a system where the odds are weighed against them to win an ET claim never actually receive the compensation they are owed

Emiliano Mellino @mellino.bsky.social · 6d

🚨 Our new investigation out today reveals how thousands of people who've taken their bosses to employment tribunals & won, never got paid, even after they approached the government for help.

This has serious implications for the Employment rights bill.
www.thebureauinvestigates.com/stories/2025...

Thousands of rogue bosses get away with not paying tribunal awards

The government scheme ‘enforcing’ money owed to workers has been unsuccessful in a staggering three-quarters of cases

www.thebureauinvestigates.com

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Andy McDonald MP @andymcdonaldmp.bsky.social · 7d

The Tories employment tribunal fees were a disaster for access to justice and for rights at work.

This Labour government cannot undermine its own employment rights commitments by introducing them.

Just rule it out now.

www.theguardian.com/money/2025/o...

Labour considering charging workers for employment tribunal claims, sources say

Exclusive: Reintroducing tribunal fees would be ‘a gift for bad bosses’, says TUC chief Paul Nowak

www.theguardian.com

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Praxis, for migrants and refugees @praxisprojects.bsky.social · 12d

📢Watch @josephinewy.bsky.social our Head of Advocacy talking on @news.sky.com about why digital ID is a distraction from the real everyday issues people are facing in this country.

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · 12d

Fantastic resource to help demystify parliament. Have you seen this @voiceofdws.bsky.social drive.google.com/file/d/17ic4...

Westminster-campaign-guide.pdf

drive.google.com

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · 27d

The @freemovement.bsky.social explainer I’ve been waiting for - a step by step to the evolving migration lists 👏
freemovement.org.uk/explainer-na...

Explainer: navigating the Shortage Occupation List, Immigration Salary List and Temporary Shortage List - Free Movement

If you’ve been trying to keep up with the UK’s ever-shifting work visa landscape, you’re not alone. Over the years, the government’s method of defining which

freemovement.org.uk

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Aug 21

"Harassers get away with it, employers fail to deal with the problem, and enforcement is unable to do anything about it. Yet again, women workers pay the price for the failure of the systems responsible for protecting their welfare."

Read FLEX's CEO Lucila Granada in @opendemocracy.net

opendemocracy.net @opendemocracy.net · Aug 21

Women working on UK farms report sexual harassment and financial insecurity

New paper reveals stark gender inequalities with the Seasonal Worker Scheme, which government recently renewed

bit.ly

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jul 18

Defra’s surveys of workers on the UK’s agricultural Seasonal Worker visa reveal serious questions about elements of the scheme. At what point will these finally be enough for an overhaul of the scheme?

labourexploitation.org/news/defras-...

Defra’s survey of the Seasonal Worker Scheme: What is the Threshold for Change? – FLEX

Defra’s surveys of workers on the UK’s agricultural Seasonal Worker visa reveal serious questions about elements of the scheme. At what point will these finally be enough…

labourexploitation.org

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Jul 17

With unfair costs already being paid by migrant workers, we back the Employer Pays Principle as a means to reduce the risk of exploitation in the Seasonal Worker Scheme.

Read our joint statement on the Employers Pay Principle Feasibility Study: labourexploitation.org/news/seasona...

Seasonal Worker Interest Group (SWIG) Statement – response to The Employer Pays Principle (EPP) Feasibility Study – FLEX

On 8 July 2025, the “Employer Pays Principle Feasibility Study within the Horticulture Value Chain” was published by Alma Economics following co-commissioning by the Department of Environment,…

labourexploitation.org

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Hannah Lewis @hannahjlewis.bsky.social · Jul 15

It was hard while developing this piece to see @focusonlabour.bsky.social excellent push for a Fair Work Agency firewall, resulting in amendment 273PA tabled by Baroness Hamwee in HoL Employment Rights Bill debate, then discarded under the illusion of 'protection of vulnerable migrants from harm'

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jul 15

helenbamber.org/resources/re...

The report also finds that of the 4% to were given leave almost half were given less than 12 months. Clearly this isn't enough time to access justice or rebuild lives.

Identifying someone as trafficked and doing nothing seriously risks a cycle of re exploitation

Thousands of confirmed trafficking victims denied permission to stay in the UK and left at risk, new report shows | Helen Bamber

New data reveals that while over 4,240 non-British nationals were confirmed to be victims of trafficking in 2024, only 176 victims were granted permission to stay in the UK (‘leave to remain’) - just ...

helenbamber.org

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jul 15

Important ‪@hannahjlewis.bsky.social critique of the damage caused by the victim narrative in anti trafficking discourse, especially in the context of @helenbamber.bsky.social @ecpatuk.bsky.social & ATLEU finding in 2024 only 4% of non British nationals confirmed as trafficked were granted leave

Beyond Slavery @beyondslavery.bsky.social · Jul 15

“Put a man on the front of our magazine and our donations will drop.”

On who gets to be a victim, and why anti-trafficking orgs haven't yet abandoned rescue narratives ✍️ @hannahjlewis.bsky.social

www.opendemocracy.net/en/beyond-tr...

Could anti-trafficking survive without victims to rescue?

Critics demand that anti-trafficking organisations abandon rescue narratives. Here’s why they don’t

www.opendemocracy.net

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jul 15

96% of trafficked people who, as non British nationals, consented to enter the UK's National Referral Mechanism & were found by the UK govt's identification system to be trafficked were not granted leave.
Imagine speaking up, providing evidence, waiting & the positive decision cutting you adrift.

Helen Bamber Foundation 🧡 @helenbamber.bsky.social · Jul 15

🚨 Thousands of trafficking survivors continue to be denied permission to stay in the UK despite their critical need for safety and support — a new report by @helenbamber.bsky.social, ATLEU & @ecpatuk.bsky.social reveals.

Instead survivors are left in fear and at risk of further exploitation. 🧵1/3

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jul 7

Still time to apply for this key role at FLEX ⬇️

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Jun 18

Opportunity: FLEX is looking for a passionate advocate to build networks and relationships, and improve law, policy and practice affecting worker in high-risk sectors in the UK.

Apply before 20th July!

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jul 1

When immigration policy ignores labour realities, it doesn’t end exploitation; it enables it.

Read our analysis of the implementation of the Immigration White paper, planned for 22 July, and what this means for labour exploitation, here 👇

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Jul 1

Today the government confirmed "major immigration reforms delivered to restore order and control".

The reality of these reforms? Chaos for people's lives, undermining workers' rights, and driving exploitation.

Read FLEX's emergency analysis here: labourexploitation.org/news/emergen...

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Big Issue @bigissue.com · Jul 1

The only thing delivery bikes outside hotels prove is that the ban on work for asylum seekers must end, says charity Asylum Matters.

Lifting the ban on work for asylum seekers is simple common sense

www.bigissue.com

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Asylum Matters @asylummatters.bsky.social · Jul 1

Or, here's an idea: we could just let people work, pay taxes, and start rebuilding their lives?
Banning work exposes people to exploitation & abuse - if you want to end illegal working, it's pretty simple: lift the ban, and let people seeking asylum work legally.

UK food delivery firms step up checks after claims of illegal workers

Uber Eats, Deliveroo and Just Eat to increase use of facial verification after ministers raise concerns

www.theguardian.com

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jun 27

FLEX report ‘Caring about workers rights’ explains how a future Fair Work Agency should adopt mechanisms such as Secure Reporting to make sure workers on restrictive work visas in high risk sectors can access rights

labourexploitation.org/publications...

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Minnie Rahman @minnierahman.bsky.social · Jun 20

Really important for many reasons for climate sector to engage in migration policy outside of just climate refugees. Migration policy affects key govt. commitments including this, and ending child poverty, VAGW and homelessness.

John Springford @johnspringford.bsky.social · Jun 20

Will the British government's immigration proposals hamper its net zero and housebuilding missions? There are certainly risks, and there may be a tricky balancing act with special treatment for certain occupations. Thread on my latest report, here: www.cer.eu/publications...

Reconciling UK migration policy with the energy transition

Many foreign workers that are needed to deliver the British government's net zero mission will not meet its higher salary and skills thresholds for visas.

www.cer.eu

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Jun 19

Thank you to Baroness Hamwee for tabling this vital amendment on secure reporting.

The Employment Rights Bill aims to strengthen workers' rights and safety; but until migrant workers can report abuse without fear, exploitation will remain undeterred.

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jun 18

Looking to work to improve workers’ rights and address risks of exploitation? Apply to join our team and build on the brilliant work of @pwielt.bsky.social ⬇️

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Jun 18

Opportunity: FLEX is looking for a passionate advocate to build networks and relationships, and improve law, policy and practice affecting worker in high-risk sectors in the UK.

Apply before 20th July!

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jun 16

Hoping this is the last international domestic workers day that domestic workers have to repeat the call for a visa which means they can access rights as workers @voiceofdws.bsky.social

Focus on Labour Exploitation @focusonlabour.bsky.social · Jun 16

Vital article from Marissa Begonia of Voice of Domestic Workers today:

"This International Domestic Workers Day, I don’t want to hear empty words or praise; I want to see change.

Big Issue @bigissue.com · Jun 16

Domestic workers in the UK face exploitation under restrictive visa rules. Marissa Begonia calls for urgent reform to protect their rights.

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Kate Roberts @k8roberts.bsky.social · Jun 16

This #InternationalDomesticWorkerDay its time to reinstate the original domestic worker visa to drive up standards & make work pay for domestic workers #ATLEU labourexploitation.org/news/interna...

International Domestic Workers Day 2025: Work needs to pay for domestic workers – FLEX

Domestic work is widely recognised as a sector with a ‘high risk’ of exploitation. The fact that these workers are behind ‘closed doors’ places them particularly at…

labourexploitation.org

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Kalayaan @kalayaan.org.uk · Jun 15

We've had a wonderful afternoon celebrating #InternationalDomesticWorkersDay with our community and allies @focusonlabour.bsky.social @effat.org @zrinka.bsky.social & others. Stay tuned for more from us this week as we continue our work to restore rights to this workforce 💪

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Reposted by Kate Roberts

Kalayaan @kalayaan.org.uk · Jun 15

Today is #InternationalDomesticWorkersDay. We're headed to Westminster to celebrate with one another, share food, hear speeches and come together again to unite and call on the UK Government to fix the broken domestic workers visa and ratify ILO Convention 189 on decent work for domestic workers 💪

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