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A collaborative approach to tackling migrant worker exploitation

A collaborative approach to tackling migrant worker exploitation. …for workers to have to pay £££ to get a job. It ’ s wrong…. Operation Tropical. A gang led by a man nicknamed “Little Frog” were convicted of plotting an extortion racket against Polish workers in Hereford.

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A collaborative approach to tackling migrant worker exploitation

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  1. A collaborative approach to tackling migrant worker exploitation

  2. …for workers to have to pay £££ to get a job. It’s wrong…

  3. Operation Tropical • A gang led by a man nicknamed “Little Frog” were convicted of plotting an extortion racket against Polish workers in Hereford. • Cash demands of up to £400 were made to victims in return for fixing jobs • Threats were issued to enforce payment of the so-called “tax”. • Two men who upset the gang ended up in hospital with a broken jaw and a fractured eye socket.

  4. …that workers are forced to stay in accommodation against their will. It’s wrong…

  5. Operation Pheasant - Wisbech • Set up to identify seriously overcrowded properties where tenants might be subject to intimidation. • “The people that are making the money is the sub-letters, because these are the people that are exploiting the people and are using intimidation tactics” • Rise in complaints about the condition of rented housing and financial exploitation, human trafficking, fraud, theft, antisocial behaviour and unpaid tax.

  6. …that workers are forced to work against their will under menace of a penalty It’s wrong…

  7. “Raid on a Kent gangmaster to free more than 30 Lithuanian workers, allegedly victims of trafficking to the UK for labour exploitation. The workers are said to have been kept in debt bondage, forced to work up to 17 hours a shift, bussed to farms the length of the country to catch hens through the night, sleeping for days at a time only in vans, in some weeks not paid at all, and, according to workers' testimony, kept under control by Lithuanian enforcers with threats of violence and on occasions actual physical assault.”

  8. What’s happening out there… • 21 million global victims of forced labour - ILO • Human trafficking is the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. Second most profitable to drugs • UKHTC referrals – Up 67% in 2 years to 1186 in 2012 • 19% of forced labour trafficking cases are in the food and agriculture sector • JRF research June 2013 – “the number of people in the UK experiencing forced labour may run into thousands” • Men more likely to be a victim of forced labour - Poland, Lithuania, UK, Romania, Phillipines

  9. External - Individual or criminal gang: Advertises actual jobs with LPs/employers on web or targets workers - but has no link with LP Charges worker for work-finding service, may charge worker additional sum on arrival in UK May provide other services e.g. transport from home country; Accommodation; Language support; Transport to work EXPLOITATION CHANNELS

  10. Internal - Rogue Consultants / Supervisor LP consultant and/or LU supervisor control the channel into work Usually same nationality and dealings often hidden by use of native language They may be working alone or be gang controlled Charge for work-finding service; bribes for regular work; may control accommodation EXPLOITATION CHANNELS

  11. Exploiters may: Hold people in debt and/or control bank accounts Tie into accommodation / immediate eviction Hold ID documents Use threats and violence in UK or to relatives in home country to hold people in effective slavery It’s all about the “MONEY”

  12. So…the challenges are… • It’s a hidden crime and difficult to uncover • Workers may not consider themselves as victims or want to report • Labour providers and employers don’t know what to look for or what to do when they uncover it …but working together we can reduce this hidden exploitation

  13. “STRONGER TOGETHER”

  14. To reduce forced labour, labour trafficking and other hidden third party labour exploitation through developing and providing… Practical guidance, tools and training for employers and labour providers: To deter, identify and manage hidden labour exploitation On actions to take when exploitation is identified for the protection of workers On processes to follow when investigating potential exploitation and reporting this to competent authorities To provide information and training to workers on how to report exploitation and who to report to OBJECTIVE

  15. Tackling Hidden Labour Exploitation For employers and labour providers • Guidance on “Tackling Hidden Labour Exploitation” • Tools and documents • Induction and training packages • Regional workshops for HR managers • Network to build good practice For workers-how and why to report • Worker leaflet • Posters • Video

  16. Please talk to me / contact me if you: Have any thoughts on how to engage workers or help employers Can help in any way Are interested in the work of this project Would like me to keep you informed Thank - You David Camp 01276 919090 david@alliancehr.co.uk www.stronger2gether.org WHAT YOU CAN DO

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