Migrant workers have become targets of exploitation by British employers.

According to UK-Chinese Times, how are migrant workers in China exploited at work? Why are they willing to be forced to work? The living conditions of workers in Britain and China should not and will not be China society? Open secrets? It has become the focus of attention of some Chinese communities with conscience and social responsibility and some research institutions in Britain.

In order to improve the living conditions of British and Chinese workers and create a more dignified future for them, a famous British charity research institution? Joseph? Langley Foundation? (Joseph Rowntree Foundation), Institute of Health and Social Change of Manchester City University and Yan Hui Institution of Manchester, in cooperation with Belfast Chinese Welfare Association and London Chinese Immigrant Network, conducted an in-depth investigation on the exploitation and forced labor of China migrant workers in Britain for one and a half years.

The survey results were condensed into a report, 165438+ 10/month 1. What are the experiences of exploitation and forced labor of migrant workers in China? The research report will be held in Manchester.

The research team composed of Caroline Kagan, Sandy Rowe, Lisa Mok, Rebecca Lautham, Sylvia Sham, Mark Greenwood and Sue Baines from the above-mentioned institutions tracked and inspected 32 migrant workers who were mostly engaged in the Chinese food service industry from September 2009 to February 2065, and formed this hard-won report. This study investigates the personal experiences of low-skilled immigrants from China who have been exploited and forced to work in Britain, focusing on the degree of exploitation of labor, investigating the reasons why they are vulnerable to forced labor, and the complex relationship among immigrants, work and family.

It is common for black workers to be exploited.

The survey found that it is not difficult for migrant workers to find jobs in China enterprises such as Chinese restaurants through word of mouth. However, the working conditions are generally poor: manual labor is heavy, working hours are long, and wages are lower than the minimum wage. Generally working six days a week and working 14 hours a day can only get 100 to 200 pounds. Workers are one of the most vulnerable groups in British society, and they have no holiday and sick pay. Employers ignore immigration laws and employment regulations, thus obtaining cheap and flexible labor.

Yan Fen, 26, worked in Britain for 5 years and worked as a chef in a Chinese restaurant. ? As an ordinary worker, the chef will bully me. I have to work six and a half days a week, and I can only rest for half a day. I don't remember how many hours I worked, but I felt very tired. 165438+ Work from 0: 30 am to 2:00 pm, and then work from 4: 00 pm to midnight after the break 1 1: 00. When they (chefs) are in a bad mood, they will say: this is not good, and that is not good either. They will let me clean this and that, and make me feel bad on purpose. Besides, I can't speak Cantonese. Let them say it again, and they will start to lose their temper. ?

Lao Li, 45 years old, has no identity and has been engaged in architectural decoration in Britain. He has been owed wages by his boss several times, and often runs away after finishing his work. ? Where can I get money from him (the boss)? Which law deals with private enterprise bosses and protects us from getting paid? So as soon as I found out that the boss had a problem, I left and found another job. ?

The experience of snakehead is a nightmare.

In addition, most migrant workers in China work in an informal capacity, which makes them feel insecure and afraid to fight against unscrupulous employers. They know little about the immigration system, and this problem is aggravated by the wrong information and their own lack of English ability.

A 36-year-old Ms. Ling, who has been in Britain for four and a half years, said: I was discovered because I failed to pass the customs and was taken to a central area. The snakehead asked me to make up my own story. The story I made up was so bad that the immigration officer didn't believe me and wanted to send me home or somewhere else. I was scared. ?

Ming, 33, came to England seven years ago. ? Arrived at the French airport, entered the country illegally without a visa, and was detained in a center near the French airport for 18 days. Every time there is a plane to Hong Kong, they will ask me if I want to go back to Hong Kong, but they won't force me to go back. Finally, he was locked up for two months for illegal transfer. After being released, they asked me to leave France within seven days. ? Why did you go to England? It's obvious? The snakehead who originally arranged for me to go to England could not arrange for me to leave, so I worked as an ironing worker in France for a month. Finally, another snakehead arranged for me to go to Dover, England by boat, and then go to London by train. ?

Jing, 24, claimed that she went to England alone eight years ago. After coming to England, Jing was forced into prostitution because he owed money to the snakehead. She resisted by suicide or hunger strike. Then she got pregnant because of rape and was finally released by the snakehead.

Improving yourself and your family is the fundamental reason.

Generally speaking, family factors are the motivation and pressure source for China workers to make money. Therefore, considering the role of family is an important factor to understand the experience of workers in China. The reason is that the economic and social conditions of China and Britain are the important background for China workers to decide to go abroad. They weigh the bleak prospects at home and the opportunity to improve their family living conditions in Britain, choose to work illegally and choose to be exploited, and at the same time meet the needs of employers for cheap and low-cost labor.

Ms. Meihua said: Many people in my hometown have gone abroad. Everyone thinks that they will live better abroad, earn a lot of money and take it home. I saw someone go home with a lot of money earned from abroad. So I had the idea of going abroad. ?

Mr. Li, 29, has lived in Britain for nine years. He said:? In Fuqing, workers' wages are the second lowest in the country. He used to have only 100 yuan a month (? 10), but I can earn 10000 (? I have only one choice, and that is to work abroad. ?

Without identity, tomorrow will be bleak.

Ping Xiu, who is nearly 60 years old this year, came to Britain with a tourist visa eight years ago. She was divorced and had two children. Now she is in her twenties and has started working. When Ping Xiu came to England, the two children lived alone, so she? Burden? Not big. After coming to England, Ping Xiu worked as a nanny and met her current British boyfriend through friends. Same age as her, she said it was good for her. ? I really want to stay here, we really want to get married, but because I have no identity, the procedure is too complicated? Ping Xiu said. ? I don't mind (not getting married), I just want to live with him and take care of him After all, we are old now, what else do we need?

Mr. Zhou, 33, has worked in England for five years. He said,? I lost my job recently, because they arrested more frequently recently? Illegal? Neither workers nor employers dare to hire people without work permits. If they are caught, their employers will also be in trouble. The employer said that you can't continue to work because the police often come to check.

Forced labor: the century problem of capitalism

It is found that exploitation can be regarded as a continuous line, and dignified work and forced labor stand at two poles respectively. When workers can't do anything about the deteriorating situation, they tend to stay away from fair labor and prefer forced labor. The positioning on the continuous line comes from the balance between the vulnerability and protection of workers. Factors that make workers vulnerable to exploitation include:

First, the sense of responsibility and pressure from the family;

2. Debt (owed to snakeheads);

Third, the cultural level, skills and English level are low;

Fourth, the immigration system only provides few job opportunities for low-skilled immigrants;

5. One-sided or misleading information about immigration policy, working in the UK and identification;

6. Lack of information and support;

7. Persistent poor working conditions;

Eight, surprise check whether the employer has been hired? Illegal? Low-skilled workers;

9. Low-paid jobs offered by China Company.

Research shows that forced labor exists in a wider social environment and is influenced by economic and social environment, family and friends. However, it is the employers who are ultimately responsible for the long-term exploitation of migrant workers. Forced labor is not only a concern for workplaces, employment measures and economic policies, but also a family and social policy issue for a century.

In order to change this situation of illegal workers, the researchers suggest:

1. Does the host country choose to join the EU (2009)? Minimum standard sanctions directive for employers who employ illegally residing nationals of third world countries? Ratify the United Nations International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families;

Second, introduce a mechanism to encourage whistleblowers to exploit employment, and enforce enterprise laws and regulations regardless of the status of workers;

Third, encourage China enterprises with a good and standardized employment system;

Fourth, expand the scope of authority of the employer licensing agency (GLA) to include all forms of labor providers;

5. Cooperate with Chinese community groups to ensure that information about the British immigration system, employment rights and how employers can seek relief when they break the law can be provided without obstacles. This information needs to be obtained through Chinese media, consultation centers and places frequented by Chinese workers (such as Chinatown) when entering or leaving the country;

6. Trade unions and voluntary agencies cooperate to speak for undocumented workers in the food industry in China;

Strengthen Chinese community groups and civil society organizations to better support migrant workers, including: cooperating with enterprises to ensure that legal employment relations are understood and applied to all workers; Providing consultation and support services for workers in China; Providing English courses for China workers and their families; Connect the relationship between Chinese workers and other communities in the Chinese community and provide them with wider cooperation;

Eight, through cooperation with the relevant departments of China, in the original residence of immigrants to find out and prosecute snakeheads.