Visas created hastily to solve labour shortages as a result of Brexit have put workers at greater risk of modern slavery and exploitation.
Migrant workers’ vulnerability to exploitation was compounded by the hostile environment as fears of immigration enforcement action deterred them from reporting mistreatment or exploitation to the authorities.
As ever with the Tories, the cruelty is the point. Mustn't let migrants get too comfortable.
Despite promises of reform, exploitation remains endemic in India’s sandstone industry, with children doing dangerous work for low pay – often to decorate driveways and gardens thousands of miles away.
The Tories have cut the budget of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), the watchdog for modern slavery.
It has been set at £6.25m for 2024-25 compared with £7.7m last year, meaning the agency’s budget has fallen by almost £2m in real terms compared with five years ago.
"A group of researchers and consultants developed the Chocolate Scorecard, which surveyed 38 of the world's largest #chocolate brands and producers.
The scorecard rates the companies according to their performance in giving farmers fair wages, managing #agrochemicals, the impact they have on the environment, and whether they rely on the use of child or forced labour."
British farmers have been accused of modern slavery over allegations of widespread exploitation of seasonal workers — which the Home Office tried to stop being made public.
The alleged mistreatment of migrants on seasonal workers’ visas is so stark that the government could be in breach of its obligations over the prevention of modern slavery, it has been claimed. #ModernSlavery#HomeOffice#Agriculture#Immigration#Farming#UKPolitics
Most of you will have seen recent news media reports of an Hamas attack on Israel, resulting in Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu issuing a formal declaration of war:
@strypey
One of the most damning quotes comes out of the mouth of the #ukGovernor of the #BankOfEngland, a "Sir" #MontaguNorman who in the late 1930s said "We must lend #Germany 230,000,000 DM, it may never be repaid but such a loss it would be less of a loss than the fall of #nazism."
Thousands of suspected modern slavery victims have had their cases rejected in a Home Office crackdown on so-called “bogus claims,” putting vulnerable people at risk.
Very concerning, inc example of domestic worker forced to work long hours and abused by her employer, who (as will often be the case) lacked paperwork to prove abuse, having her claim rejected on the basis she had “left” her exploiters rather than escaping.
The number of modern slavery cases reported within the UK care industry has more than doubled in the past year.
A woman who came on a care work visa states when she complained about working for up to 20 hours per day for as little as £2 per hour, the company threatened to stop her work and cancel her visa - classic example of employer-led visa fuelling exploitation https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-66260064
Hundreds of modern slavery cases will be put on hold after the govt admitted its own guidance for considering victims’ claims was unlawful, conceding a legal challenge by two people who were refused protection under the new higher evidence threshold. They argued that the guidance breached the European Convention on Human Rights, and was unfair and irrational https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/modern-slavery-law-small-boats-b2367378.html
"Sometimes you get physically ill, you feel like vomiting, you feel dizzy, you have diarrhea, your legs start shaking and it’s really a horrible situation because you can only take a break for 10 or 15 minutes when you start feeling like that and then you have to keep working because it is very rare that there are bosses who will tell you, OK, you’re having these symptoms so you should probably go home..."