Asylum seekers ‘subjected to sexual harassment’ in government hotels

The Home Office has been urged to examine the community of hotels holding hundreds of asylum seekers following allegations of sexual harassment, intimidation and claims that workers have been paid considerably under the minimal wage.

A joint investigation by the Observer and ITV News suggests privately contracted workers at some asylum hotels have been paid little over £5.50 an hour.

Yvette Cooper, who chairs the house affairs choose committee, has referred to as on the Home Office to examine if the private firms running the hotels are “fit for purpose”.

Among the investigation’s findings are that asylum seekers have been unlawfully threatened by personal contractor workers that the police will probably be referred to as in the event that they depart their resort.

There are allegations that girls have been sexually exploited inside hotels, with others complaining they really feel unsafe.

At least 9 asylum seekers have died in hotels final yr run by Home Office personal contractors, whereas others have been compelled to sleep in parks and streets after being ejected by contractors for breaching resort guidelines.

There are additionally claims that coaching for contractor workers coping with susceptible and traumatised individuals is insufficient. “The Home Office has to make sure the systems they put in place for these private contracts are properly working and that there are proper checks and safeguards in place,” mentioned Cooper. “At the moment we are not seeing that. The Home Office has to take some responsibility.”

The low pay allegations contain hotels run by Stay Belvedere Hotels Ltd (SBHL) which is accountable for offering non permanent lodging for asylum seekers in about 50 hotels and hostels in London and the south of England.

SBHL is subcontracted by Clearsprings Ready Homes, which stands to earn up to £1bn for its Home Office contracts regardless of controversy over its operating of Napier barracks in Kent, the place asylum seekers have complained of dire residing situations.

Some SBHL workers say they labored 12-hour shifts, six days every week, for as little as £5.77 an hour. When one worker complained, a WhatsApp from the SBHL supervisor said: “I have plenty of ppl willing to work at even less than what u are getting paid, trust me.”

Last night time the agency mentioned it was dedicated to making certain all workers acquired not less than the minimal wage and had launched a direct evaluation into pay that might rectify points discovered.

Inside hotels overseen by Clearsprings, some asylum seekers have complained of unwelcome sexual behaviour. One present resident, whose anonymity is being protected, mentioned she felt “very unsafe” and alleged she had been sexually harassed.

“Staff use the master key to enter my room and call the women unpleasant names. The unwelcome sexual behaviour and invasion of privacy makes me feel uncomfortable,” she mentioned, including that she had complained to Clearsprings workers. Maddie Harris from the Humans for Rights Network, which paperwork violations in opposition to asylum seekers, mentioned that they had lately heard claims from a dependable supply that girls have been being abused in a London resort.

Harris mentioned: “We have received allegations that young women are being exploited. This is deeply concerning as these vulnerable women must be protected from harm. The Home Office must immediately investigate these allegations and ensure that asylum seekers whom they have a statutory responsibility to protect are safeguarded from harm.”

One serving workers member admitted they knew of not less than one colleague who had sexual relations with an asylum seeker regardless of it being “forbidden.”

They mentioned: “You’re not allowed to do that. These people are considered vulnerable people.”

Meanwhile, provisional findings from an information gathering train by charity Care4Calais volunteers inside 40 hotels, had recorded contractor workers dismissing an allegation of sexual harassment by a girl asylum seeker as “not an emergency.”

Last night time Clearsprings mentioned it will totally examine the allegations however questioned their accuracy and rebutted any suggestion that issues round security or safety raised weren’t taken severely.

The hotels, that are estimated to be holding as many as 6,000 folks, kind a serious part of the Home Office’s resolution to dealing with the backlog of people ready for a call on their asylum claims. However, new proof suggests a quantity have imposed arbitrary and seemingly illegal guidelines on residents.

One discover, taken from a resort in north-west London, warns asylum seekers: “Any absences longer than two hours will be reported to the Home Office and disciplinary action might be taken.” Under present lockdown guidelines, there isn’t any restrict to the period of time somebody may be exterior.

Another poster – to personal contractor workers in a north London resort – merely states that asylum seekers “should not be leaving”. It provides: “If anyone leaves the hotel for more than an hour we need to call the police.” It additionally warns that if asylum seekers can not present proof of the place they intend to go to “they will not be allowed back into the hotel”.

Georgia Banks, a caseworker for Duncan Lewis Solicitors, mentioned the Home Office should take final duty. She mentioned there was no authorized foundation for this coverage, “which essentially amounts to an unlawful deprivation of liberty for individuals who are already vulnerable as a result of a history of torture and/or trafficking prior to their arrival in the UK”.

In addition, studies have emerged from not less than 5 hotels the place asylum seekers have been ejected for apparently breaking guidelines.

Earlier this month Care4Calais acquired data that one asylum seeker had spent two nights in an east London park after being “penalised” for staying out in a single day.

Another asylum resort in north west London was reportedly locking folks out in the event that they left the premises for longer than one hour, however had since ceased the follow.

Clare Moseley, founding father of Care4Calais, mentioned: “Being an asylum seeker means that, by definition, you have suffered something terrible. This may make them easy to intimidate.”

Further questions over the operating of the hotels are additionally raised by new figures that reveal that 9 asylum seekers died final yr “in Home Office hotel accommodation.”

However the information, obtained in a freedom of data response, doesn’t reveal the deceased’s identities and even how and the place the person died, prompting requires extra transparency.

Questions additionally stay over how privately contracted workers are handled. One former SBHL worker shared invoices displaying that in October he was paid £5.77 an hour, primarily based on the quantity he was paid divided by the variety of hours he labored. He anticipated £7.70 and mentioned he accepted the place and pay as a result of he was determined. “Because of this pandemic it was difficult to find a job, and being a student it was even harder during this time.” he added.

His weekly tally of 72 hours labored is considerably greater than the 48-hour working week, often called the EU working time directive, conceived to shield staff rights.

Other invoices, from an SBHL worker at a north London resort, signifies that in November they have been paid lower than £6 an hour.

Many of the resort’s personal contractor workers are overseas nationals and South Asian worldwide college students who say in addition they settle for the low wages as a result of they’re breaking the phrases of their visas by working way over 20 hours per week.

SBHL mentioned: “We are committed to ensuring all staff are paid fairly, at least in accordance with the national minimum wage requirements. In addition to their pay, many staff receive accommodation and other amenities and benefits.”

The SBHL assertion added its workers acquired “thorough training” together with safeguarding that have been recurrently reviewed by impartial our bodies.

Clearsprings mentioned it was not conscious of any workers or sub-contractor workers “currently” being paid under the minimal wage and pledged to examine workers working hours and pupil permits. “We strongly deny claims that concerns around safety or security raised by asylum seekers are not taken seriously as all reported concerns are investigated and actioned appropriately. Clearsprings and their subcontractors cooperate fully with any investigating authority.”

It added that asylum seekers have been “free to come and go as they please” and will entry the 24/7 Migrant Help service for registering complaints or request help.

Clearsprings mentioned it had recorded 4 deaths in hotels run by its subcontractors since March which have been all “related to ongoing health conditions and not to Covid”.

A Home Office spokesperson mentioned: “We have raised these serious allegations with our accommodation provider and will investigate them fully.

“Asylum seekers are not detained – they are free to come and go as they please in line with Covid restrictions.

“The Home Office takes the wellbeing of asylum seekers incredibly seriously and they have 24/7 access to a migrant helpline if they need any assistance. We are deeply saddened by the death of any asylum seeker in our accommodation and our thoughts are with the friends and family of those who have passed away.”