Housekeeper for free?

It's too late to worry about NI contributions if she's 'live-in gran' age, she'll never get enough for state pension. This isn't the end of the world, loads of people don't have enough, they claim pension credits and survive.

If she can get her earnings up to £155/week she will be eligible for housing benefit and tax credits (or universal credit). It wouldn't take much for her to be independent.

I know lots of people on the thread are adamant that this should be reported as slavery but I'm not so sure. Technically it is, and your nasty friend is breaking all sorts of laws. If she'd been paying her, this woman could probably have applied for permanent residence by now, so that's shitty in itself.

What would people's attitudes be though if this woman was actually nasty friend's mother and an actual 'live-in gran'? Would anybody bat an eyelid at the arrangement, given they are both happy with it? Would this woman really thank you if you 'rescued' her and she was helped to return 'home'?

She is definitely vulnerable and being exploited. Doing what's best for her might mean taking a softer approach and not jumping straight to the most drastic option.

If it were me, I'd string nasty friend along just long enough to properly befriend this woman and persuade her to get advice for herself.

If you're working part time below a certain threshold then you don't pay national insurance. So it sounds may not be accruing national insurance which is very concerning for her future.
www.taxguideforstudents.org.uk/working/employed/what-national-insurance-do-i-pay-as-an-employee#what

Pls update after you have reported this slavery.
The poor woman may be able to access English lessons which might open her eyes. I know you don't want to put the country she is from but are there any groups online or locally that might give advice in her own language.
I'm sure the CAB would be able to help via a translator that they could organise.
Your ex-friend is an exploitative bitch.

She can say she lives as a member of the family, is very happy with the set up and nothing will be done

Sadly there is no guarantee something will be done if you report.

How many hours is she working in the paid job and how much is she getting paid? To qualify as a 'worker' for right to reside, the work must be 'genuine and effective'. Usually this test is met by earning at least £155/week.

I'd be wary of reporting without her permission. That sounds awful and what your stbx-friend is doing is illegal and exploitative. However, if she is not found to meet the definition of 'modern slavery' she could then find herself in trouble with the home office and get a 'prepare to leave' letter.

If at all possible, it would be better for her to seek advice for herself. Rights of Women are very good. Or you could call them yourself before reporting, just to check what is likely to happen.

You have to work 35 years and pay full NI to qualify for a state pension, don't you? How many hours is she doing??

[shudder]

Of course something will be done! This is modern day slavery, it will be investigated. You also don't know what goes on behind closed doors and if she is being mistreated in anyway, they clearly don't value her whatsoever..

OP how did your friend end up in this "set up" ? Is there a back story?

And where is her pension, her health insurance, her dental care, her savings? It is beyond reprehensible to leave someone in a situation like this just because they don't have the power to object and move on. Truly horrible.

Poor lady. This is a lose lose situation. Talk to her properly about her rights and what she actually wants to do.

If she's lived with them for a few years and she hasn't improved her English (one reason I can imagine someone thinking a trade off might be worth it for a short period) then she does sound rather trapped and very vulnerable.

You need to report this. An elderly lady (let me guess, from one of the eastern EU countries) with limited English has been here years with no pay. What happens when she gets ill?

Op isn't going to do anything.
She will wring her hands, post on Mn, Distance herself from the friend and consider it Job done..

Revolting. Exploitative. Your 'friend' is a modern day slaver.

She can't just leave and get another job, because she'd be homeless. She can't leave and rent somewhere and then get another job, because she only has pocket money as an income. So, OP, she can't leave!

And I'm guessing she doesn't get back to her home country very often? Unless your STBExF pays for her flights?

Au Pairs live rent free but they're entitled to "pocket money" and have strict rules about the amount/type of work and days off.

Nannies can live in too, but they get paid for their work.

And if this lady has limited English, then there's simply no way she knows what her rights are.

Please tell the police. Anonymously if need be. This woman is being exploited and it's both immoral and illegal.

so the woman is low paid and elderly with bad English and allowed out to work in a low paid job that your friend has found her.....as a slave for another maybe.....it has been known before that a worker/family friend has ben encouraged over with promises of being looked after and thinking the pittance offered is a fortune because it would be at home and then they are worked and farmed out to others on low pay. Often they send money home to put food on the table and have the added burden of letting family stave at home. Her hands are tied as she wont know the law and her rights here its your duty to help her please act now imagine if it were your family member.

So what are you going to do?

I wouldn't cut off this 'friend' just yet, instead I'd keep at the live-in slave and work on her. Your friend is a slave keeper. What she is doing is illegal.

This gets even more disgusting. So the slave is an elderly person?? No wonder she can't leave. Her owners will probably chuck her out when she can't work anymore. Please make an anonymous report here, TONIGHT. www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/report
If you won't do this, then you are just as bad as the slave owner herself. This evil can only keep going because people turn a blind eye.

What are her contracted hours? Does she get sick pay, holidays, pay national insurance?

And even if she gets the above, how can she pay for anything if she is only allowed out for a few hours to earn pin money?

How will she ever get out of this situation?

If you live in your place of work you can not just pack a bag and walk into another job or home so she is a prisoner, Her only alternative would be to be begging and homeless as any low [paid job she has now wont be enough to pay deposit to live anywhere else. Whether reporting the situation outs you or not its your duty as a human being to do so. Do you really want to be friends with someone who can abuse others anyway?

No, is is totally illegal. Are you sure she isn't being paid anything?

Do you know anything about the lady's family? Very odd that she would chose to stay if she isn't able to earn any money to send back home.

This is such a sad situation for that poor woman. Your friend is exploiting her badly. And yes, it is modern day slavery

Don't be so naive to say she could pack a bag and leave and rent somewhere else. You must realise that this is not a real possibility for this woman? Please do something to help her.