REWARD INSIGHT
Abolishing modern slavery
Samantha Mann MAAT MCIPPDip, CIPP senior policy & research officer, reveals information on a subject that has surprising connections with pay
T he role of independent anti-slavery commissioner was created in 2014 to investigate cases of involuntary labour as part of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Kevin Hyland OBE has held the post of commissioner since its inception in 2014. It is to him we turn to establish the definition of modern slavery: “Modern slavery is an umbrella term encompassing slavery, servitude, forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking. Victims of modern slavery are unable to leave their situation of exploitation, controlled by threats, punishment, violence, coercion and deception. Slavery violates human rights, denying people of their right to life, freedom and security.” ‘Coercion’ includes the withholding of wages and is captured within the definition and the findings of forced labour statistics. Forced labour continues on a global scale even though it is banned across the globe. Research carried out by the International Labour Organization and published in 2016 (http://bit.ly/2xdbMgN), reveals that of the forty million victims of modern slavery, approximately 25 million were in forced labour. In a recent article, the anti-slavery commissioner stated: “We need modern slavery to become socially unacceptable, like we saw with drink driving and domestic violence”. However, he warned: “there isn’t an overnight fix, when every part of the UK thinks that this cannot be tolerated any
rent by the person arrested and appeared to be victims of exploitation. At the time of writing enquiries into this case are ongoing. Awareness and knowledge The Local Government Association (LGA) safer and stronger communities board together with the anti-slavery commissioner have published Tackling Modern Slavery: a council guide ((http://bit.ly/2rEhHfK). The guide highlights that amongst the different forms that modern slavery can take, labour exploitation occurs where a victim is made to work with little or no pay. There are other aspects that may fall under this definition but as wage payment is the most likely area where we could come across such examples let us consider what work is currently ongoing to uncover and bring an end to this aberration. A recent article written by the GLAA asked the simple question “what does someone who has been illegally trafficked into the UK, is then forced to live in squalor and is paid a pittance for working several hours every day, have in common with a worker who is not receiving holiday pay?” The answer the GLAA give is they are both being exploited for their labour. The GLAA The GLAA has replaced the Gangmasters Licensing Authority and with its new name come additional powers and a broadened remit to investigate all forms of labour exploitation.
longer, then we will see a change in culture.” The Home Office has estimated that there are between 10,000 and 13,000 victims of modern slavery in the UK. ...includes the withholding of wages and is captured within the definition and the findings of forced labour statistics Partnership in action In January, the commissioner joined with officers from the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) to observe how they were utilising their increased powers to tackle exploitation across the entire labour market. Officers of the GLAA assisted officers from the Metropolitan Police who were visiting a hand car wash in London, which resulted in one arrest at the site in connection with suspected trafficking of Romanian nationals into the UK for the purpose of labour exploitation. In total, twelve workers were discovered at the disused petrol station forecourt, either living on-site in shipping containers or the kiosk building or in nearby rented accommodation. All were being charged
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| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | March 2018 | Issue 38
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