Labour Exploitation: Spot the Signs

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) want to raise awareness of the potential exploitation of workers throughout food production, agriculture, horticulture and shellfish gathering that may occur. However, exploitation is not wholly restricted to these areas and can spread across other business sectors too.

Labour exploitation can be an element of the criminal offences of forced labour or human trafficking, which themselves constitute modern slavery.

Modern slavery is a global problem and international crime, affecting millions of people worldwide, including many victims within the UK. Men, women and children of all ages and backgrounds can fall victim to human trafficking, forced labour, domestic servitude or debt bondage.

There are many ways that people can be exploited – forced to work for little or no pay.

Types of exploitation include:

– Labour exploitation

– Sexual exploitation

– Domestic servitude

– Organ harvesting

– Criminal exploitation

Victims are controlled by force, threats, coercion, abduction, fraud and deception.

Any form of ‘consent’ given by a victim in these circumstances is irrelevant – no person can have control over another person by these means.

Please download a ‘Spot the Signs’ guide here and share within your organisation.

If you have any concerns about the immediate safety of an individual call 999 and ask for the police.