Further Information
 

Research by Oxfam

                                                                 Oxfam Turning the tide (See Oxfam Publication PDF)

Call for Case Studies – Migrant Rights Network

Objective

• To gather approximately thirty individual case studies detailing the exploitation of those within the hospitality and care industry by gangmasters. Preferably these case studies would be drawn from across the UK to evidence our belief that exploitation is widespread in the hotel and catering sector.

Project duration: All interviews completed by 9 October

 Outline 

• Oxfam works to end poverty and suffering across the world, including in the UK. We have identified protection of labour rights as being vital to ending poverty in the UK.
• In July, Oxfam released Turning The Tide, a report that highlighted exploitation by gangmasters in the sectors of construction, hospitality and care.
• The report, based on interviews with stakeholders and migrant workers, found evidence of workers routinely being paid below the National Minimum Wage, excessive and spurious deductions and denial of sick and holiday pay.

• This evidence pointed to a need for greater enforcement of employment rights within the sectors of hospitality, care and construction. We view extension of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority as the most effective and immediate way to improve the enforcement of employment rights within these sectors.

• In order to mount a strong campaign for extension of the GLA’s remit, it is imperative that we have further, first-hand evidence of exploitation in the hospitality and care sectors. In particular, we would need evidence from workers in areas other than London.

• Oxfam therefore proposes to commission a series of interviews with exploited workers in the sectors of hospitality and care.

Proposal 

• To interview approximately 30 workers, including at least 20 careworkers. Complete anonymity of interviewees can be guaranteed.

• Please see attached a list of questions, which we would like to be asked. Final list of questions to be confirmed.

• Interviews will be recorded on digital Dictaphone, which can be provided by Oxfam. Oxfam will then transcribe these interviews upon receipt of the Dictaphone files.

• Oxfam will write up the case studies into a briefing paper to be used for lobbying.

 Criteria
 

 It is vital that workers are working for gangmasters (agencies), rather than directly employed.

A variety of case studies is preferable, though the quality of case study is our primary concern. Below is a list of factors, which may aid your identification of potential case studies:

• Both men and women

• Variety of locations, especially from outside London.

• Workers from different countries, i.e. Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia etc (preferably regular migrants)

• Different examples of exploitation (illustrative not exhaustive):

  • Long hours

  • Low wages, esp. below the NMW

  • Excessive deductions

  • Lack of health and safety

  • Bullying and intimidation

 Potential subsequent media work

If interviewees are interested in media work, we would be looking for workers who are prepared to:

• Be interviewed by our Media team and for their stories to be passed on to journalists and appear in print (but they would not have to talk to the journalist)

• Be recorded talking about their experiences by a journalist to be broadcast on radio or TV i.e. Newsnight  (but they would not appear live)

• Talk to journalists and whose stories would then appear in print (i.e. newspapers)

• Talk live on TV or radio - i.e. interviewed by a presenter on Breakfast TV

• Give their names and show their faces. (However, workers could have their identities protected i.e. names changed and faces not shown in photos.)

 Cost: To be negotiated.

Contact: Krisnah Poinasamy on 01865 47 3184 or email kpoinasamy@oxfam.org.uk

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