Thread by @benamunwa

New ebook available to download!
Supporting Migrant Workers: rights-based approaches.
An accessible guide to the law of workers' rights, the gig economy, hostile environment and modern slavery. lawmostly.com/2018/05/18/new…

1/ The backstory:

It all started with a phone call with @MirandaGrell on a busy train packed with kids (incl. mine) who were determined to sabotage any meaningful conversation...

@MirandaGrell 2/ Between that and phone reception cutting out, I just about understood that the @LawCentres were interested in some training on 'human rights...discrimination against migrant workers...international law...'

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres 3/ ... I thought it over & the lawyer in me immediately hit a brick wall.

UK equality law does not currently recognise discrimination on the basis of a person's immigration status.

Don't believe? See here at §§ 21 - 26: bailii.org/uk/cases/UKSC/…

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres 4/ here's the @UKSupremeCourt
dismissing claims by 2 domestic workers subjected to 'systematic and callous exploitation'.

The Court's conclusion at § 34 is stark. They lose because the law does not protect them.

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt 5/ so I tried to reverse-engineer and consider how the most exploited and vulnerable can use basic employment rights to seek redress...

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt 6/ Inspiring, path-breaking work by @ATLEUnit and their partners like @Kalayaan, @Hopeforjustice have shown how the law can be developed to better protect modern slavery survivors

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt @ATLEUnit @Kalayaan @Hopeforjustice 7/ the amazing success of @UNISON_Legal in abolishing Tribunal fees that has re-opened access to justice for large numbers of workers denied their basic rights...

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt @ATLEUnit @Kalayaan @Hopeforjustice @UNISON_Legal 8/ recent landmark litigations to acheive basic employment rights in the #gigeconomy by @IWGBunion @LeighDayEmploy @BWBllp and others has highlighted to human cost of the flexible #gigeconomy

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt @ATLEUnit @Kalayaan @Hopeforjustice @UNISON_Legal @IWGBunion @LeighDayEmploy @BWBllp 9/ I had little choice but to write a book about all this to do justice to it. And so, here it is.

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt @ATLEUnit @Kalayaan @Hopeforjustice @UNISON_Legal @IWGBunion @LeighDayEmploy @BWBllp 10/ I've been super-lucky to have the support of the @LawCentres, and their project office @ChilintanLaura along the way... Thank you for the great work you do.

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt @ATLEUnit @Kalayaan @Hopeforjustice @UNISON_Legal @IWGBunion @LeighDayEmploy @BWBllp @ChilintanLaura 11/ While writing this I've been helped greatly by writing / blogs by @ColinYeo1 and @freemovementlaw on #immigration, Nick Nason of @EdgewaterLegal on #Windrush, @LYoussefian on the extension of leave under section 3C IA 1971, and other pieces by @CloistersLaw & @uk_immigration

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt @ATLEUnit @Kalayaan @Hopeforjustice @UNISON_Legal @IWGBunion @LeighDayEmploy @BWBllp @ChilintanLaura @ColinYeo1 @freemovementlaw @EdgewaterLegal @LYoussefian @CloistersLaw @uk_immigration 12/ sounds cheesy but there's a higher purpose here, law's on the move (particularly re: modern slavery) and it's refreshing to work together & be inspired by so many of you.

Thanks also to my colleagues @36Civil / @36BedfordRow who gave me the headspace to get this done!

@MirandaGrell @LawCentres @UKSupremeCourt @ATLEUnit @Kalayaan @Hopeforjustice @UNISON_Legal @IWGBunion @LeighDayEmploy @BWBllp @ChilintanLaura @ColinYeo1 @freemovementlaw @EdgewaterLegal @LYoussefian @CloistersLaw @uk_immigration @36Civil @36BedfordRow 13/ will have some more treats to share very soon...

For now, if you're not already, please follow & support the wonderful work of @ATLEUnit.

They're amazing.

[ends]