GLAA Intelligence Picture Q2 2024-25 (July-September 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. 

Methodology

This profile has been produced based on Intelligence Reports and General Issue Referrals received and processed by the GLAA during the reporting period. Reporting must contain either the following keywords: ‘slave’, ‘traffick’ ‘forced labour’ and/or ‘exploit’ or be marked by the author as having MSHT indicators.

The data has then been manually reviewed. Any duplicate records, reports where MSHT was not in fact apparent, reports with limited detail, and reports that related to other forms of exploitation such as sexual or criminal have been discarded.

Potential victim profile

Where it was recorded, the gender of Potential Victims (PVs) was almost an equal split between male and female, age was largely unknown and Indian was the most common nationality.

This has changed slightly since the last quarter where victims were predominantly male.

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.

Potential exploiter profile

From the limited data provided Potential Exploiters (PEs) were predominantly male, age was largely unknown and of British nationality.

Where exclusively female exploiters were recorded, the sector was always care home/social care. 

The most common type of potential exploiter recorded was employer, with the many of those being referred to as an owner or manager of a care home or care agency.

Sectors

The GLAA intelligence picture identified possible labour exploitation in 15 different industry sectors during this quarter. 

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

Care home/social care

Care home/social care was the most reported sector this quarter by a wide margin (60% 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.

 Retail/food service sector

Referrals/reports from the retail sector have stayed the same whilst reports from the food service sector have increased from 2 to 7 reports this. The food service sector predominately referred to takeaway businesses. The most common exploitation type in both these sectors was financial exploitation, which included debt bondage not being paid.

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 Greater London West Midlands, and Norfolk / Kent. The sector of note in the Greater London region was care.

Recruitment

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

Where recruitment locations were specifically recorded, the locations  were:

•    Mauritius
•    Nepal
•    Romania
•    Overseas

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 into the country. The methods recorded were plane and container (NFD). Methods of transport into the UK are not often reported but are included in the GLAA’s intelligence collection plans. 

Accommodation

The most common type of accommodation reported was on site. Living on site was mostly linked to the Construction and Food Service sector.

Other types of accommodation described were above work, caravan, flat, HMO, house, hut room, shed and supported living. 

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 was also substandard.

Exploitation type

There were 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 forced 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.

Horizon scanning

Seasonal Worker Scheme

Following the United Kingdom’s (UK) exit from the European Union (EU[1]), recruiters and businesses can hire workers from outside the EU. These workers may be at a greater risk of exploitation.

War in Ukraine

The Ukrainian war has resulted in around 174,000 people being moved to the UK under the Ukraine Family Scheme and Ukraine Sponsorship Scheme as of 9 May 2023. Moreover, Ukrainians have been the most common recipients of Seasonal Worker Visas (42%) [2].