GLAA Intelligence Picture Q1 2024-2025 (April-June 2024)

This is a quarterly report providing an update on the GLAA intelligence picture of forced and compulsory labour in the UK, defined as “All work or service which is exacted from any person under the threat of a penalty and for which the person has not offered themselves voluntarily” ILO definition. 

The report concerns modern slavery and human trafficking (MSHT) for labour exploitation only. It does not cover MSHT for other purposes such as sexual exploitation, criminal exploitation (drug cultivation, drug dealing / county lines) or forced begging. 

The report is intended to describe the intelligence picture of forced and compulsory labour as reported to and investigated by the GLAA, rather than an all-encompassing national picture of MSHT. Some of the GLAA findings therefore may differ to those of other government departments tackling modern slavery. 

Neither is the report an analysis of labour market non-compliances where MSHT indicators are absent.

Victim profile

Potential victims (PVs) were predominantly male (45%), age was largely unknown and of Indian nationality. Zimbabwean nationals were the next most reported potential victims.

Several reports indicated that PVs displayed some kind of vulnerability to exploitation, with the most common being tied to a sponsorship or visa. This on occasions led to PVs being forced to work for the employer even if the conditions were unacceptable as the employer used the threat of cancelling the sponsorship if the worker complained.

This has not changed since the last quarter.

Potential exploiter profile

Potential Exploiters (PEs) were predominantly male (39%), age is largely unknown and nationality was British or Zimbabwean.

The most common type of potential exploiter recorded was employer, with the majority of these being from a care agency. 

Sectors

The GLAA intelligence picture identified possible labour exploitation in 14 different industry sectors during this quarter. 

The top three reported sectors for this quarter were care home/social care, hotels and restaurants and retail. 

Care home/social care

Care home/social care was the most reported sector throughout 2023/2024. It was the most reported sector this quarter by a wide margin (61% of reports/referrals).

This large number of reports/referrals is almost certainly due to the GLAA’s continuing to serve as a signpost for intelligence and information moving to/from/ between partner agencies and departments on the back of OP TOPAZ and to assist in developing the GLAA's intelligence picture of the care sector.

It is often overseas workers that are recruited. They are usually paid inadequately and have paid inflated work finding fees, which is likely to lead to the victims suffering financially as well as psychologically.

They often feel trapped in their work due to the threat of revocation of sponsorship. Due to threats, fear and working long hours, without breaks workers are likely to experience physical harm.

Hotels/restaurant and retail sector

Referrals/reports from both the hotels/restaurants and retail sector have increased this quarter. Nearly all reports from the hotels/restaurants sector relate to restaurants rather than hotels.

Potential victims regularly work long hours with insufficient breaks. Workers are trapped in their situation due to low wages, which can sometimes lead to them being debt bonded. Many workers are threatened by their employer leaving them fearful. Reports from this sector have increased this quarter.

Location

The GLAA forced and compulsory labour intelligence picture for this quarter showed a varied spread of locations across the UK. 

The top 3 reported counties for reports/referrals with modern slavery indicators were West Midlands, Greater London and West Yorkshire. Sectors of note in the West Midlands were care and car wash. 

Recruitment

The recruitment method of victims remains a large intelligence gap for the GLAA. In this quarter, there were limited reports suggesting recruitment via trafficked into the country or through family/friends. Methods of recruiting workers are not often reported.

Where recruitment locations were specifically recorded, the locations  were:

•    Africa
•    India
•    Lithuania
•    Overseas
•    Portugal
•    Punjabi region
•    UK
•    Zimbabwe

Transport to the UK

This is another large intelligence gap for the GLAA. However, it is also not always relevant as not all potential victims are trafficked into the UK by an exploiter. 

In this quarter there were limited reports suggesting travel via a plane into the country. Methods of transport into the UK are not often reported.

Accommodation

The most common type of accommodation reported was on site, with containers being specifically mentioned in two cases. These cases were linked to the retail and car wash sector.

Other types of accommodation described were house, caravan, storage unit, hotel, apartment, shared accommodation, shed, flat and with the potential exploiter. 

The data shows that accommodation continues to be a factor in the exploitation of victims of forced and compulsory labour, with most of the accommodation provided by the potential exploiter. This can lead to the exploiter having an element of control over the potential victim. In most of these reports the accommodation is also substandard.

Exploitation type

There was a wide range of exploitation types reported this quarter. The most common was financial exploitation, which included debt bondage, paying inflated fees, not receiving an adequate wage, having wages withheld and unexplained deductions from their wages.

The next most common exploitation type was being made to work excessive hours. This exploitation type was most likely to be linked to the care sector and was often due to workers having to travel to various locations during one working shift.