Focus on Labour Exploitation

From Philippine’s Coast to UK Waters: Interviews with local fishers with experience in the UK In this guest blog for Focus on Labour Exploitation, researcher Kookie Gutierrez reflects on her work engaging with Filipino migrant fishers and their experiences on UK vessels. The Catch When I began...

Read the blog: labourexploitation.org/news/from-ph...

In a guest blog, Kookie Gutierrez reflects on the challenges faced when engaging with Filipino migrant fishers and their experiences on UK vessels.

These difficulties might be hard to overcome, but present the very reason why this work is so important.

Unravelling The Nets: An examination of the seafarer visa policies and their impact on migrant fishers in the UK There has been growing concern regarding the working conditions and safety of migrant fisher workers in the UK. The fishing industry is vital: the workers on which is relies are of central importance ...

Read our latest report on fishing, including our policy recommendations, here: labourexploitation.org/publications...

This latest development grows the gathering storm in UK fishing.

That’s why FLEX has been calling for urgent action to address the situation of migrant fishers on UK flagged vessels, from a Fishing Worker Visa to equipping the new Fair Work Agency to address these issues.

Northern Ireland trawlers banned from fishing within 12 miles of the Isle of Man Up to 70% of fishing boat crews operating out of the north’s ports are from overseas

This is significant news, given that the vast majority - reportedly 70% - of such trawlers are crewed by migrant workers. These workers face poor and dangerous working conditions, alongside low wages and limited-to-no labour market enforcement.

www.irishnews.com/news/norther...

Valentine’s Day 2026: The Right to Love Valentine's Day is a day associated with romance, family, and loved ones. Whilst usually debated in the realm of earnest romance versus corporate co-option for the sake of marketable holiday merchandi...

With Valentine's Day approaching, we are shining a light on how visa systems strip away the right to family life from migrant workers, effectively commodifying people.

Migrant workers deserve the same right to enjoy love and family life as anyone else.

labourexploitation.org/news/valenti...

Exclusive | Great Ormond Street Hospital cleaners win landmark racial discrimination ruling Tribunal finds Black cleaners were kept on worse pay and conditions than other NHS staff

Read more: www.blackcurrentnews.co.uk/p/exclusive-...

www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/...

Subscribe to our newsletter to follow our work: mailchi.mp/fcb3b8c1221c...

Clear paths to challenge abuse, dependency-free visas, proper labour market enforcement: these are all anti-racist workers' rights proposals.

Race equality, migrant rights and workers rights are not different areas: they are one and the same.

Many migrant workers, such as domestic or farm workers, are dependent on their employers for visa sponsorship.

For the many workers facing exploitation or racism, challenging abuse involves huge risk, as the employer could retaliate in a way that gets them deported.

In a survey conducted by Unite last month, 45% had been exploited due to their migrant status. 46% of respondents had experienced racism, discrimination or unfair treatment while working in the UK.

Of those, 47% had received racist abuse from their employer or manager. This raises particular alarm.

Exclusive | Great Ormond Street Hospital cleaners win landmark racial discrimination ruling Tribunal finds Black cleaners were kept on worse pay and conditions than other NHS staff

The recent ruling in favour of Great Ormond Street workers shows this. There, outsourced workers were transferred to in-house contracts, but were not given the standard terms and conditions.

The fact that the vast majority of these workers are Black, Brown and/or migrants is not incidental.

For #RaceEqualityWeek2026, we highlight that workers’ rights are an inherently racialised issue.

Structural racism pushes Black, Brown and migrant people into a higher likelihood of low-pay, high-risk work.

For migrants who have been scammed into these visas, the upcoming Fair Work Agency must ensure that there is support via bridging visas, to transition them into stable visas without dependency on the whims of a company.

There must also be ways to report issues without risk of deportation.

By tying migrants' immigration status to employers companies approved to sponsor their visas, a huge amount of dependency is created.

That dependency creates risk of exploitation: if you rely on a company to live in the UK legally, what can you do if they scam, extort and exploit you?

Labour & Migration Experts Warn Over Fishing Visa Loophole - UK Fishing Industry - The Fishing Daily - Irish, UK and European Fishing Industry News Labour and migration experts warn fishing visa loophole risks exploitation as transit routes replace lawful employment protections

Labour & Migration Experts Warn Over Fishing Visa Loophole
thefishingdaily.com/uk-fishing-i...

#ukfishingnews #ukfishingindustry #fishingnewsUK #commercialfishingnews #fishingnews #dailyfishingnews #MigrantLabourUKfishing

Unravelling The Nets: An examination of the seafarer visa policies and their impact on migrant fishers in the UK There has been growing concern regarding the working conditions and safety of migrant fisher workers in the UK. The fishing industry is vital: the workers on which is relies are of central importance ...

Our thanks to Lord Watson, Baroness O'Grady, @amcarmichaelmp.bsky.social, Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Eleanor Lyons, GLAA CEO Elysia McCaffrey, @shushinluh.bsky.social, @itfglobalunion.bsky.social, and all the attendees.

Read the report here: labourexploitation.org/publications...

FLEX held an event in Parliament to launch our report, Unravelling the Nets, attended by politicians, regulators, retailers, producers and more.

The consensus was clear: the UK urgently needs a fishing visa, to stop the risks of labour exploitation via the transit loophole.

Last hours for Policy Officer applications, and just a few days left for Administrator applications!

👉 @focusonlabour.bsky.social
is looking for an Administrator
Apply by 25th January, 23:59

👉 @neonuk.bsky.social
is recruiting an Operations Assistant
Apply by 25th January

[3/3]

👉 @rethinkecon.bsky.social
is looking for a Communications Lead
Apply by 25th January, 23:59

👉 @focusonlabour.bsky.social sky.social
is recruiting a Policy Officer
Apply by 21st January, 23:59

[2/3]

Unravelling the Nets: Report Launch and Policy Deep Dive FLEX is hosting a presentation and panel discussion event in Parliament, on our new report on fishing immigration systems.

Read our full report here: labourexploitation.org/publications...

To learn more, come to FLEX's event in Parliament later this month: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/unravellin...

Code 7 allows temporary entry for crew joining a vessel that will leave UK waters. It does not grant permission to work or reside in the UK, leaving workers with with ambiguous access to basic necessities of life, let alone vital services and protections from labour exploitation.

In December 2026, a new list of sectors with a shortage of workers will come into effect. Migrant workers applying to work in those areas will be able to get visas, even if they don't meet the high threshold of the Skilled Worker Visa.

Fishing workers are not on that list.

UK fishing depends on migrant workers.

And yet policy changes set to come into effect this year will mean the only way migrant fishers will be able to work will be through a loophole, known as Code 7.

For migrant fishers in the UK, this bakes in the risk of labour exploitation.

Looking for something new?

FLEX is currently hiring for two positions - Policy Officer and Administrator.

For job descriptions, person specifications and how to apply, go here: labourexploitation.org/about-us/opp...

Job opportunities Current vacancies: We currently have two job vacancies: 1. Policy Officer (Click here for info...)+ FLEX is looking for a passionate advocate with a good understanding of the UK political system, of l...

Happy New Year.
Want to spend 2026 working to end labour exploitation?
We are recruiting for a Policy Officer and Administrator at @focusonlabour.bsky.social

labourexploitation.org/about-us/opp...

As we look fwd to Christmas dinner, remember the migrant workforce who make it all possible on our farms, picking & processing our food🎄

These workers should be protected from exploitation but restrictive visa conditions make them vulnerable-
@focusonlabour.bsky.social looks at solutions:

International Migrants Day 2025: FLEX’s Year in Review December 18th is International Migrants Day. 2025 marks 35 years since the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted a resolution on the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights o...

Read our year in review here: labourexploitation.org/news/interna...

Today is #InternationalMigrantsDay. We mark this in an increasingly tough environment, where the political consensus is evermore hostile to migrant workers.

We take this day as an opportunity, at the end of the year, to mark FLEX's work advocating for migrant workers and challenging exploitation.