Partnership Bulletin November 2021

Season two of the Know Your Rights podcast has been designed specifically to tie into the Level 1 Award in Workers’ Rights and Labour Exploitation, a 10-hour course aimed at young people and adults entering or returning to the world of work.The six episodes cover everything from how to apply for jobs safely to spotting the signs of modern slavery and learning how to report concerns to the GLAA and partner agencies.

All episodes are available to listen to on the GLAA website, as well as on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Amazon Music.

• Workers’ rights qualification: an introduction
• How to apply for jobs safely
• A crash course in employment rights
• Modern slavery and how to spot the signs of exploitation
• Reporting concerns and what happens to my information?
• Surviving labour abuse: a victim’s story

Six promotional videos produced by the Skills and Education Group provide more detail about how the qualification was first developed and the impact that it has had so far. The videos also feature insights from the diverse range of educational establishments that have delivered the course, as well as from some of the learners themselves, who discuss the skills and knowledge they have acquired through taking the qualification.

• Introduction
• Behind the pilot
• Delivering the course
• Who is it for?
• My experience
• The impact

GLAA Head of Prevention and Partnerships Frank Hanson said: “We want young people and adults to be better informed, to understand what their rights are, and to know where to go if they believe something is not right.

"Knowing your rights is not only vital for staying safe and progressing within your chosen careers but also in creating productive workplaces free from slavery and exploitation.”

 

GLAA film helps mental health first aiders spot modern slavery in construction

We've created a film to support a major UK construction firm to train hundreds of their mental health first aiders to identify modern slavery  and labour abuse in the workplace. 

Kier, a leading UK construction company, has hundreds of employees who are mental health first aiders, who are specially trained to identify, understand and help someone who may be experiencing a mental health issue.

We joined forces with Kier to explain how modern slavery and labour abuse can be closely linked with signs of mental health problems. 

By being aware of the signs of modern slavery, their own staff can identify potential exploitation and signpost to the help and advice they need. 

Kier's Social Sustainability Manager, Sheryl Moore, said: "Unfortunately, construction is one of the areas that is targeted by modern slavery, so we're doing our utmost to tackle this abhorrent activity. That's why we're investing in training more than 500 people every year to support people not only within Kier, but within our supply chain as well."

And the GLAA would like other firms to follow their lead. If you'd like more information how you can run similar training at your business, contact our Head of Prevention, Frank Hanson, via email. 

 

Joint webinar from GLAA, EAS and HMRC's National Minimum Wage team

Businesses are being invited to protect themselves and their workers in a free webinar being hosted by the GLAA and other enforcement bodies – HMRC and the Employment Agency Inspectorate (EAS). 

The event, on Wednesday 15 December from 2pm-3pm, will aim to raise awareness of the importance of being compliant as a business, especially when it comes to workers – ensuring they are treated fairly and legally in respect of their working conditions and pay. 

The three agencies hosting the webinar all have responsibilities for ensuring businesses comply with the law and ultimately protecting workers. They want employers to look after their workers, comply with the law and play their part in eradicating poor working practices by being a compliant business. That includes helping employers learn how to spot signs that something may have gone wrong or is not right with their staff or working practices. 

To find out more details, including registering for the webinar, click here. 

 

Thousands in unpaid holiday pay uncovered 

In the last quarter, our Compliance officers identified in excess of £30,000 worth of unpaid holiday pay and travel charges.

The unpaid amounts were uncovered by our officers through their routine compliance inspections. We also continue to identify where worker contracts do not meet the GLAA licensing standards and these worker contracts are then amended.

We’ve seen a decrease in application inspections this quarter compared to the same period last year. While there has been a decrease in application inspections in 2021 so far, compliance inspections have increased by 33%. This increase is a step in the right direction towards fulfilling the obligations of our Compliance Strategy.

Also this month, 13 of our Compliance Investigating Officers, as well as two officers from the North West enforcement team, have undertaken the SA 8,000 Lead Auditor Course in Social Systems. The course covers child labour, forced or compulsory labour, health and safety, and freedom of association. Offers also received training around the right to collective bargaining, discrimination, disciplinary practises, working hours, remuneration and management systems.

Peter Swailes senior, then aged 80, and his son, Peter Swailes junior, 55, appeared before Carlisle Crown Court in April 2021 charged with modern slavery and human trafficking offences.

However, at a crown court hearing on Tuesday September 21, it was confirmed that a death certificate had been received in respect of Swailes senior.

Swailes junior, is accused of the same offences under Section 2 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and Section 1 of the Criminal Law Act 1977.

The alleged victim was found and removed from a six-foot shed by our investigators in October 2018 and received specialist support.

Swailes junior, of Cryndlbeck Stables, Low Harker, Carlisle, is still due to stand trial in January 2022.

 

GLAA operation tackles shellfish gathering on east coast

Our investigators conducted a four-day operation on the North Yorkshire and Cleveland coast targeting unsafe working practices and potential gangmaster offences.

Enforcement teams visited Filey and Redcar to challenge those suspected of gathering shellfish illegally or controlling workers without a GLAA licence.

Intelligence indicated potential risks to the pickers from inappropriate clothing and a lack of awareness of unpredictable incoming tides, hazardous rock pools and exposed cliffs.

Public health and food safety concerns from shellfish, crabs and lobsters unfit for human consumption entering the food chain were also of concern to investigators.

A number of people were spoken to across the four days of action and one individual was interviewed under caution by GLAA officers at Redcar.

Investigations are ongoing and further visits will be made to the restaurants and takeaway outlets across the UK where some of this shellfish is believed to have ended up.