You may think... "does this even happen here?"
Yes, modern slavery does happen in the UK today, it does not only affect other countries. Victims from different backgrounds are trapped here with no way out. Modern slavery is the illegal exploitation of people for personal or commercial gain and includes labour exploitation, also known as forced labour. Many labour exploitation victims are British nationals. Unlike other types of modern slavery, labour exploitation could be taking place in clear sight and we could be interacting with victims on a daily basis without realising.
We live in a fast paced environment. As consumers, we prioritise our convenience and want to save time and money, but have you ever wondered at what cost?
Our demand for services drives supply and the profits for businesses. Criminals have grabbed this opportunity with both hands, disguising illegal labour practices and the exploitation of workers within public facing businesses. Frequently, these are the services we use daily, such as hand car washes, nail bars, takeaways, restaurants and doorstep services such as home builders, driveway, paving installers, cleaners or gardeners.
Victims are seen as little more than a money making opportunity, not human beings. They work long hours, often in dangerous or difficult conditions. By not paying victims the National Minimum Wage or any money at all, criminals are able to make large profits, sometimes provide cheaper prices and undercut legal businesses.
Learn about sectors most at risk of labour exploitation click below
Nail bar
Manicures were once seen as a luxurious treat. Nowadays, you can find a nail bar on almost every high street, many offering budget pricing and accessible to everyone. Consider what has made the price of this treat so affordable, but more importantly, who is paying the real cost?
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Victims are often Vietnamese females or males and can include children. Victims are kept isolated from the community and are often accommodated on the salon premises and are not allowed to go out unsupervised. Victims may be locked in overnight and shop shutters may be closed and locked from the outside, preventing those inside from leaving. You may see staff work long hours and have few, if any, days off. Exploiters will often provide minimal protective equipment (masks, gloves, apron and eye protection) to the victims to save money. Workers at these premises may show fear and anxiety towards a manager, who appears overly intrusive or controlling. Victims may avoid eye contact and conversation with customers beyond the basics required to manage the service provided and may speak little or no English. Payments are often paid to the manager of the premises and victims may be fearful of taking payment or tips offered.
Mai is from a rural village in Vietnam. Mai’s family earnt their living by farming livestock, their income was low and opportunities for work and higher wages were hard to come by. Therefore when Mai was introduced to a labour broker who promised her safe travel to the UK, well paid work in a nail bar and a place to stay, she was keen to accept. Mai’s family had to take out loans to pay a large deposit to secure the labour broker’s assistance and to guarantee she would work her full contract. Mai was told this debt would be paid off easily in 2 years with her wage and she would have money left to send home to her family. With no reason to doubt the labour broker’s offer, she agreed to the work.
Mai was frightened during the journey, cramped into small dark spaces in lorries without knowing where she was. Upon her arrival in the UK, things didn't seem right to Mai, her employer took her identity documents and she wasn't allowed to leave the nail bar or contact her family. Mai was made to sleep with other workers above the shop, in a cramped and dirty room, and she worked long hours with no breaks or days off. At night the shutters were locked so Mai could not leave.
Mai was constantly told that she owed more money to pay for the broker’s fees, her journey, rent, food, and work equipment, and much of her wage was retained in order to pay for this. However Mai was being tricked, and no matter how much she worked she was never able to reduce what she owed. When Mai challenged the low pay and high costs, she was threatened with violence against her or her family back home, and her employer threatened to report her to the police and have her deported. Mai couldn’t speak English, and was scared of the police and these threats. Constantly watched by her employer, she didn’t know who to turn to, or how to get help.
Following an anonymous tip-off from a member of the public the nail bar was raided by the police, who helped Mai and other workers to escape their situation. Mai was taken to a safe place, and provided with support to re-connect with her family and rebuild her life.
The victim stories are a compilation based on true cases
Reporting your concerns
If you suspect labour exploitation, you need to report it. If you observe a life threatening situation you should always call the police on 999. However, if you are unsure about your concerns or want further advice and support, you can report to the police via 101 or call the Modern Slavery Helpline, anonymously, on 08000 121 700. You can also report your suspicions on the online reporting form available on this campaign page.
Door step services
Few of us aren’t familiar with a knock at the front door to find a doorstep seller offering us gardening, driveway and paving installation, cleaning, home building work and many other services. In our busy lives, convenience is often a big lure for us to buy services on the spur of the moment. These sellers can solve our home maintenance problems without having to spend hours searching online and often at very competitive prices. Many doorstep sellers are lawful tradespeople, but this work also offers the perfect hiding place for forced labour. Have you ever considered using them?
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Offenders prey on the most vulnerable people in our society, including homeless people, those with alcohol or drug dependencies and even those with learning difficulties. Criminals are known to recruit victims into this work at places such as homeless shelters and food banks. They make promises of a roof over their head, a warm bed and hot food, whilst providing them with work.
The victims dream of a new life is shattered, as they lose all of their freedom and are forced to work long hours of heavy manual labour, in all weather, for little to no pay. Victims are controlled through violence, threats and intimidation. Victims have been found accommodated in run down, cold, damp and filthy outhouses, caravans and sheds, with little access to running water or sanitary facilities. Some have been held captive for decades.
Victims may be recognised by their appearance, always wearing the same or dirty clothes. They may have poor hygiene and look tired, gaunt or malnourished and have an unkempt appearance. During work, you may observe they have had a lack of training or wear little or no protective equipment which could risk them being injured. Victims may show signs of current or old injuries, which may have gone untreated and you may observe them being bullied, shouted at, threatened or mistreated by other workers, especially a manager. Victims could seem nervous, be unwilling to speak with you or prevented from interacting by another person speaking on their behalf and may avoid eye contact. British nationals are frequently victimised in this sector, alongside Eastern European nationals and are typically male.
Phil was a vulnerable young man who had become homeless after fleeing his abusive father and had turned to alcohol while on the streets. One evening while queuing to access a homeless shelter, Phil was approached by a man who offered him tarmacking work in his family’s business. He could provide Phil with accommodation, food, transport and a regular wage. Attracted by his chance to escape the streets, Phil accepted the offer, unaware that this man would control and coerce him into appalling labour conditions for over three decades.
When Phil arrived at his new accommodation he was shocked to find himself forced into an old dirty caravan with no electricity, running water or working toilet. Phil tried to voice his concerns, but his exploiter responded by punching him and threatened that if he tried to leave he would be beaten. Phil slept on a makeshift mattress made up of foam seat pads on the floor and used an outside cold water tap to wash under. He was forced to complete back breaking work, such as tarmacking, paving and building from dawn until dusk, seven days a week in all weather and often on an empty stomach.
Phil’s exploiters lived a life of luxury; driving expensive cars and wearing Rolex watches whilst Phil’s weekly wage was frequently withheld. Phil would often be paid in cheap cider, keeping him dependent on alcohol. He was given infrequent handouts of £10 and told the rest of his wage was being held for ‘safe-keeping,’ but he never received this. Working in challenging and dangerous conditions meant Phil often received injuries, on one occasion breaking his ribs from a fall. After his injury, when he should have been resting, Phil was forced to continue working for the family. Phil lived under the constant threat of violence, subjected to daily verbal abuse and humiliation. He witnessed his exploiter’s brutality inflicted upon other men held captive in their workforce, including one worker being hit with shovels on the ground after trying to escape. Phil could not escape, he had nowhere to run, nobody to call for help and was watched constantly by the family.
A tip-off from the public resulted in a police led, multi-agency operation eventually leading to the discovery of Phil and other captive workers at the site, securing their release and access to support.
The victim stories are a compilation based on true cases
Reporting your concerns
If you suspect labour exploitation, you need to report it. If you observe a life threatening situation you should always call the police on 999. However, if you are unsure about your concerns or want further advice and support, you can report to the police via 101 or call the Modern Slavery Helpline, anonymously, on 08000 121 700. You can also report your suspicions on the online reporting form available on this campaign page.
Hand Car Washes
Do you remember the days of washing your own car? Nowadays hand car washes exist in every town, springing up on petrol stations, disused forecourts, industrial sites and even on car parks. Operating 7 days a week until late into the evening, these sites offer us real convenience, removing a dirty time consuming task from our lives and often at extremely competitive prices. Have you ever wondered how they keep their prices so low?
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The UK has thousands of hand car washes, many of which are law abiding but some are involved in labour exploitation and a host of other breaches including tax evasion, none compliance with Health and Safety standards, lack of planning permission and environmental damage.
Victims are often men from Eastern European countries such as Romania, Albania and Bulgaria. Victims can often take this as their first job in the country as it requires minimal English language skills and there is often a high demand for workers due to its labour intensive nature and by consequence, high turnover of staff. Offenders make victims work long shifts with limited breaks and no days off. To save money some exploiters don’t provide appropriate protective equipment and clothing, such as gloves and waterproof boots. The frequent exposure to water and chemicals in the cleaning materials can result in trench foot and chemical burns. To minimise cost and keep control of victims you may also see workers living on site, this may often be a poor standard of accommodation such as a camper van, outbuilding or even a shipping container. You may observe locks on the outside doors of this accommodation, which could indicate workers being locked in overnight. Victims are rarely allowed to handle cash and payments are typically controlled by a domineering manager.
Florin travelled with a group of men from his village in Romania to the UK after responding to a job advert offering work in car washes, restaurants and shops. The advert required a payment of £550 for work finding fees. Florin couldn’t afford the fees, so was relieved when the agent agreed to cover them until Florin was placed into work, at which time they would be recovered from his salary. Florin was given a mobile phone number for his new employer and put on a minibus to Victoria Coach Station.
When he arrived in London, Florin was collected by his new boss and told he would be working in a car wash. His employer told him that the transport costs had been added to his debt and 10% interest would be added each week until the debt was paid. Florins identity card was taken from him and he was told to sign a contract to register as self employed as a condition of his employment. Florin did not understand that this meant his new employer would not be required to pay him national minimum wage, sick pay or offer him holiday pay. Florin worked 12hrs a day, 7 days a week with no rest break during the working day. His accommodation was a small dirty flat, occupied by 8 other men, with mouldy walls and not enough mattresses for all the occupants. At night the men shared beds, taking turns for sleep during the short rest time they were given. Florin was told the accommodation was part of the work contract, if he left the flat he would forfeit his job.
At the car wash, Florin wasn’t provided with any waterproof clothes to wear, nor protection for his hands and feet. As the days passed his hands became painful, irritated and the skin broke from the constant exposure to the cleaning solutions. When his work slowed due to the discomfort, Florin was verbally abused and threatened by his boss. After deductions to pay off his ever increasing debt, rent and electricity, Florin was left with just £25 a week to survive on.
A concerned member of the public raised concerns to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority about the car wash, after observing burn injuries on workers hands and the poor state of workers dress. This prompted a safeguarding visit to the car wash for officers to check on the workers welfare. Unaware of the national minimum wage and his workers’ rights, Florin hadn’t understood that he was being exploited until this time. The visit opened Florins eyes to his abuse and offered him a route out.
The victim stories are a compilation based on true cases
Reporting your concerns
If you suspect labour exploitation, you need to report it. If you observe a life threatening situation you should always call the police on 999. However, if you are unsure about your concerns or want further advice and support, you can report to the police via 101 or call the Modern Slavery Helpline, anonymously, on 08000 121 700. You can also report your suspicions on the online reporting form available on this campaign page.
Takeaways/restaurants
While you may not have used any of the services covered above, very few of us have never bought a meal out or picked up a takeaway for a cosy night at home. While waiting for our food it’s easy to get lost in conversation or our mobile phone’s. What would you see or hear in your favourite takeout if you took a moment out?
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Unlike the other sectors we’ve talked about, victims in these services can sometimes be harder to spot as they often work in the kitchens rather than front of house. However, many takeaways are small and as customers we can often see or hear the kitchen or observe staff behaviour.
Forced labour typically occurs in small independent or fast-food businesses and often those serving pan-Asian cuisine (Indian, Chinese, Korean, Thai, Japanese). Victims may be from the same ethnic group as the cuisine, with offenders often targeting victims within their own communities. However, victims can also be Romanian, Turkish or Chinese nationals, though any nationality could be affected and victims can be male or female.
Victims are generally kept on the premises, accommodated on-site and rarely seen out in the community. Having to work long hours with minimal breaks and days off, you may observe victims looking tired and overworked. Victims may show fear or submission when in the presence of their exploiter and may also show signs of physical abuse. Victims will often be tasked with dish washing, cleaning the premises and other labour intensive tasks, alongside food preparation. Without the appropriate kitchen training and protective attire, victims may often display knife cut injuries and burns from the ovens. Victims may show nervousness when dealing with cash or may not be allowed to take payments from customers. There will often be the presence of someone watching and controlling what they do. You may hear workers being bullied, intimidated, shouted at or threatened in the kitchen. Workers may speak little English.
Xiao Zhou left China to work abroad to help his family pay off debts incurred by his father, who had disappeared. He borrowed money from his family and friends to pay a travel facilitator, known as a snakehead, to help him travel to London. The package arranged with the snakehead included payment for a work permit and finding a job. Xiao Zhou learnt during the journey that the work permit was fake, but under the control of the snakehead and now in Russia he had no option but to continue on. Once in the UK, a year later, he was provided work undertaking general kitchen duties in a Chinese restaurant.
Xiao Zhou worked 6 and a half days a week, averaging 11hours each day for £135 per week. After working in the restaurant for 8 hours, he was given 1 hours rest, before being transported to a takeaway to work 3 more hours each night. His back and joints ached and his feet hurt. Xiao Zhou wasn’t given a contract for his work and was not allowed any holiday time. The work was hectic with Xiao Zhou routinely bullied by other staff and shouted at to work harder and faster, to keep turnover of orders high. Xiao Zhou was given no kitchen training and fatigued by the long hours, often resulted in knife cut injuries and burns from the ovens. Xiao Zhou was allowed 2 toilet breaks & 1 meal in his working day, any more would see him deducted in pay from his weekly wage.
All of the kitchen staff were housed above the business, with Xiao Zhou sharing one cramped room with mattresses on the floor, with 4 other workers. Xiao Zhou’s undocumented immigration status was ever-present and a continual source of anxiety, used by his employer as a threat to prevent complaints, telling him he would be reported to authorities and arrested. His status prevented Xiao Zhou from accessing legitimate employment or alternative accommodation and kept him bound to his exploitative employer. Xiao Zhou felt trapped, alone and isolated, unable to contact his family and unable to speak English to ask for help.
Following an argument with his employer about withheld wages, Xiao Zhou was dismissed from his job and thrown out onto the streets. With no money, identity documents or accommodation, Xiao Zhou was found by a charity working with the homeless and referred into the National Referral Mechanism. Xiao Zhou was supported with a period of rest and recovery before being helped to return back to his family in China.
The victim stories are a compilation based on true cases
Reporting your concerns
If you suspect labour exploitation, you need to report it. If you observe a life threatening situation you should always call the police on 999. However, if you are unsure about your concerns or want further advice and support, you can report to the police via 101 or call the Modern Slavery Helpline, anonymously, on 08000 121 700. You can also report your suspicions on the online reporting form available on this campaign page.
So why don’t victims just leave?
Many victims are economically vulnerable to recruitment into exploitation, perhaps through a lack of opportunities for education or work. Other victims have more complex and extreme vulnerabilities, such as addiction, unstable home lives, poverty, mental health conditions, homelessness or those escaping conflict or economic and political instability in their home countries. Some victims may also have an insecure immigration status, leading to a fear that they will be reported to the authorities, exploiters will often lead them into believing that there is no alternative.
Victims are often befriended, then coerced or deceived into taking up employment before they recognise the exploitation. Exploiters may use threats, intimidation and physical violence to control their victims and remove their identity documents and freedom. Victims will be isolated from the community and unable to contact friends or family. Victims are regularly forced or tricked into false debt, incurring debt for services such as recruitment fees, food, transport and accommodation which unfairly increase over time, leading to a situation called debt bondage. Victims get trapped in a cycle of debt they cannot escape. Those with insecure immigration status may not know where they are, speak the local language, understand how to access help and may not trust officials such as the police.
Does cheap mean exploitation?
The offer of services at low prices can be a sign of labour exploitation, which criminals use to lure customers in and undercut competitors. However, many lawful, legitimate businesses will offer budget pricing, discounts and sales, so it is important that you don’t just rely upon pricing and look for other indicators too.
Exploiters may use threats, intimidation and physical violence to control their victims and remove their identity documents and freedom.
What can I do to help?
It begins with recognising that the money you spend might be funding businesses that are benefiting from exploitation. As a consumer, you have the power to make a significant impact on the business models of these criminals and stop them from profiting from the misery of others. By recognising the signs of exploitation, making informed decisions about where to spend your money and choosing not to buy services from those businesses which raise concern, these exploitative businesses will become less profitable and therefore less appealing to criminals.
Victims of forced labour may rarely be visible beyond the confines of their workplace – you could be their one opportunity to escape their situation. You may feel it is ‘just a feeling,’ or that you don’t know enough about the situation, but by passing on your concerns, however small, your information could significantly help to build a picture which will enable action to be taken. Reporting any concerns to the police ( 999 or 101) or anonymously to the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121 700 or via the online reporting form below, could give a victim of labour exploitation their freedom.
Read on to learn more about how you can make a difference by not buying into modern slavery.
Victims of forced labour may rarely be visible beyond the confines of their workplace – you could be their one opportunity to escape their situation.
How can I recognise the signs of labour exploitation?
The following are common signs of labour exploitation which can help you recognise victims or risky business practices:
Workers
- Are not able to leave the work premises alone, may appear to be under the control of others or excessively supervised.
- Have limited interactions with colleagues and customers, may be withdrawn, avoid eye contact and conversation or display signs of anxiety or fear.
- May appear tired, dishevelled, neglected or malnourished due to lack of rest or suitable food.
- Lack the right personal protective equipment for the job
- Lack training or skills in their job, which may expose them to the risk of harm
- Wear inadequate clothing for the weather or nature of the job
- May show signs of physical injury, psychological abuse or untreated medical conditions
- Are non-English speakers and/or another person speaks on their behalf, such as the manager.
- If you’ve met the worker before you may notice they always wear the same clothes or their personal hygiene is not good
Business practices
- Employees work unusually long hours without breaks, or are provided little or no time off work.
- Services are offered at much cheaper prices than competitors
- Businesses are often cash based and payment is made to someone else instead of the worker, such as an overseeing manager. The worker may appear fearful of taking payment for the services.
- Workers may sleep at the business premises, mattresses may be observed in the back of the premises or in storage areas/out-buildings
- Workers may appear younger than you would expect
- Workers are not allowed to, or are fearful of taking tips or hand tips to a third party
- The business may operate unusually lengthy operating hours, including weekends and bank holidays.
Make the right choices
Now you are equipped with the knowledge to understand and spot signs of exploitation. You can use this information to make well informed decisions on your daily purchases.
Be observant when using these services and trust your instincts; if something doesn’t feel right then it most likely isn’t.
None of us want to think our hard earned money is funding criminals to exploit other people, but this is the sad reality. We all have the power to drive exploiters out of these sectors, by not providing the demand for their business; all it takes is for us to choose not to spend our money with them.
It can be challenging to know how to react and respond if you observe signs that concern you. So what can you do?
- You do not need to confront the manager or raise your concerns at the premises, it is often unwise to do so and could cause the exploiter to move any victims on to other premises, making them harder to locate and expose them to further risk.
- If your concerns arise before you have started receiving the service you could cancel the appointment or order, or leave the premises. Remember this is your money, you do not need to explain how you choose to spend it.
- If you identify concerns during your engagement with the service, it is best to pay for the service on that occasion, but consider not returning.
- Flag your concerns to the Modern Slavery Helpline or a local police force to help safeguard any potential victims.
- Share your concerns with friends and family, encouraging them to avoid those businesses too.
Further information on reporting can be found below.
Importantly, remember the victims. After you leave, they remain trapped in their situation – you can help them by reporting your concerns, which you can do anonymously if you wish.
Who can I report my concerns to?
If you suspect labour exploitation, you need to report it. If you observe a life threatening situation, you should always call the police on 999. However, if you are unsure about your concerns or want further advice and support, you can report to the police via 101 or call the modern slavery helpline, anonymously, on 08000 121 700. You can also report your suspicions via the online reporting form below.
UNSEEN Reporting APP
If you are a regular user of these services, you can download the ‘Unseen’ app on your mobile phone which provides information on the signs of exploitation and access to online reporting or to the Modern Slavery Helpline. The app is available on both iOS and Android.
Download app for iOS
Download app for Android
