Re-elected Labour Party MP Seema Malhotra has hit the ground running in her new role as a Home Office Minister. The British Indian member of Parliament for Feltham and Heston was picked by Home Secretary Yvette Cooper for the important legal migration portfolio as her Parliamentary Under-Secretary.
In one of her first actions, London-born Malhotra joined Border Force officials at Gatwick Airport to alert young British travellers about exploitative employers abroad under Operation Karetu.
Malhotra said: “Travelling abroad for a summer in the sun is an exciting prospect for thousands of young people across the country, but it’s important they’re able to do that safely.
“Operation Karetu is just one example of Border Force’s work to protect the British public, ensuring young people are kept safe from unscrupulous employers.”
Border Force officers have been running Operation Karetu at 22 airports across the UK, targeting young people travelling to work in Mediterranean destinations who could be at risk of exploitation, criminality and illegal working. Young holidaymakers who travel abroad every year to work in the hospitality industry risk being forced to work long hours for low wages. Risks include working illegally due to a lack of knowledge about European Union (EU) employment regulations or being exploited by serious organised criminal gangs.
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This year’s operation was specifically targeting the Balearic Islands, which includes popular tourist destinations such as Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca. It is carried out in partnership with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), the modern slavery charity, Unseen, and British embassies abroad.
Some important alerts include:
1. Working while a tourist in the EU is illegal. If you are not an EU national or legally resident in the EU, you need a job offer, work permit and visa.
2. Check you have a visa and a contract before starting your job.
3. Ask about accommodation and find out the rent or costs. Do this before accepting accommodation as part of a job offer.
4. Keep hold of your passport at all times. If it is taken, report it to police. You can contact the local British Consulate for help and advice. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
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*Info: Travelling to the EU
