Work Rights Centre

Who we are

We started in 2016 with a single advice desk in a public library. Created by migrants, for migrants and racially disadvantaged Britons, our founding volunteers wanted to address the lack of information and support for people who are having to navigate the complex intersection of precarious work and immigration insecurity.

We wanted to be there for people who had nowhere else to turn to: those facing the joint barriers of racial inequity and financial disadvantage, those working in low-paid, insecure roles, without the protection of a union.

We are now one of the leading advocates of migrant workers’ rights. We were at the forefront of supporting communities through the challenges of Brexit, Covid, and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, and are now spearheading advocacy for sponsored migrant workers, including Health and Care workers and Seasonal Workers.

Our greatest strength is our team, and the mix of lived and professional expertise. We employ a multilingual team of advisers who change lives with expert legal advice and rights-guides, and a team of campaigners who challenge the root causes of injustice with research, evidence-based policy advocacy, strategic litigation, and media interventions.

Together, we are working towards a fairer Britain for all workers, regardless of immigration status.

Our culture and values

Our values

1.  Justice: We want to see a world where everyone’s rights are protected, and where people can obtain redress and remedy when their rights are breached.

2. Inclusivity: We believe that no one should be disadvantaged in accessing their rights, by their birth or circumstance.

3. Mobility: We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to pursue their aspirations, across social and national borders.