§ Miss Emma NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the new measures announced on 9 December 1994 for the admission of overseas domestic workers will make the written agreement between employer and employee enforceable as a contract in the British courts. [5882]
§ Mr. KirkhopeThe position of overseas domestic workers is no different from that of other employees in this respect. Contractual terms are matters for employers and employees to agree. Once agreed, they are legally binding and, in cases on non-compliance, employees can take action for breach of contract through the civil courts or, in certain circumstances, through industrial tribunals.
§ Miss NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions his Department has had with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for Education and Employment regarding monitoring alleged abuse and exploitation of overseas domestic workers in the United Kingdom. [5883]
§ Mr. KirkhopeDomestic workers who are abused by their employers are advised to contact the police. Information about this is set out in the leaflet issued to domestic workers before arrival in the United Kingdom. These arrangements are kept under general review by the Government Departments concerned.
§ Miss NicholsonTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions his Department has had as to the feasibility of allowing overseas domestic workers in the United Kingdom to change employers. [5881]
§ Mr. KirkhopeWe have received a number of representations in support of allowing overseas domestic workers to change employers, but we consider that this would be contrary to the purpose of the scheme, inconsistent with our immigration controls and against the interest of the resident labour force. Each case involving a domestic worker who wishes to remain in the United Kingdom after having left his or her employer is carefully considered and account is taken of any compassionate circumstances.