THE JASMIMI SHOW FOR OUR PLACE IS HERE

In the UK there are roughly 23,000 overseas domestic worker visas issued every year but no record of how many stay. They come to the UK with a private employer and work behind closed doors in family homes, with tasks such as cleaning, childcare, cooking, gardening and caring for elderly people however, once the 6 month visa they have been given has ended, domestic workers become undocumented and at risk of exploitation with no employment rights ie. no minimum wage, no sick pay, no set working hours and their freedom taken away with their documentation. 

Mimi, a domestic worker and Trustee at The Voice of Domestic Workers, and I connected as part of the Our Place is Here campaign - a coalition of charities and community groups putting the rights of migrant domestic workers firmly on the map. We got together in the kitchen to catch up on her story while cooking a traditional Filipino favourite, Pancit - a stir-fried noodle dish - which I remember fondly from all of my family gatherings, especially birthday celebrations with the noodles representing long life. 

Mimi and I will be reuniting on 7th August for a special Sunday lunch-club (the Filipino community of domestic workers here in London, and across the world, meet every Sunday on their day off to dance and eat) at Refettorio Felix in Earl’s Court where you can come and learn about the campaign’s work and join us for Pancit cooked up by my pals The Adobros, a Filipino-supperclub founded by brothers Mark and Mike. Come and join us for a Sunday lunch Filipino-style with all proceeds going towards the four charities involved who all work to raise awareness and advocate for domestic workers’ rights.