<h2>'I wasn't allowed to see a doctor'</h2>

Rita, a 30-year-old from India, is being looked after by Kalayaan, a London organ-isation that supports migrant domestic workers (Rita is not her real name).

Rita, a 30-year-old from India, is being looked after by Kalayaan, a London organ-isation that supports migrant domestic workers (Rita is not her real name).

"An American family hired me through an agency in India and took me to America. There was so much work - ironing, cooking, cleaning, gardening, cleaning the car.

I didn't have warm clothes and they wouldn't give me any more clothes. My knee swelled up but they didn't take me to the doctor. They told me I couldn't see the doctor because I was not American.

They didn't pay me. They locked me in the house. I wanted to go to church and they said 'No, you can't go out!'

They didn't give me any shoes. The woman counted the slices of bread that I ate and there was never enough food. They told me they had paid for me to come to America so they wouldn't give me anything.

I got up at 6am when they wanted to go jogging, and I didn't go to bed until two or three in the morning. They had guests and parties so I had to cook for them.

I wanted to leave that family but I couldn't because the door was locked.

Then they sent me to London to clean for their daughter. They gave me $5 (about £3) and an air ticket. I arrived in London on 26 June 1998.

The police at the airport said 'Where is your employer?' I was crying because I didn't have any money. They let me out and I tried to get a taxi.

I didn't know anybody. I didn't know how to change the money because I didn't speak English. I decided I had to run away. I went into a church.

I saw an Indian man and I asked for help. They gave me the address of Kalayaan. The man gave me food and they gave me £5 to get a taxi.

I feel it's OK now. I stayed with another worker and I got a job. Now I can pay my rent and I have a visa."