GLAA joins partners at recruitment conference to discuss exploitation

The GLAA was one of several organisations that attended a conference in Chelmsford to discuss modern slavery and spotting the signs of exploitation in the care sector.

The inaugural Essex International Recruitment Conference, which took place on Wednesday (5 February), was organised by Essex Police, and more than 80 people attended to listen to organisations such as the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, UKVI, Unseen, Justice and Care and several other partners talk about the role they play in supporting migrant workers who come to the UK on a skilled workers visa to work in the care sector.

In the UK, there are almost 17,000 care homes supporting more than 430,000 people, with a further 951,800 people receiving domiciliary care. 

Nearly 1.6 million people work in the care sector, and in 2023, the UK was short of around 150,000 workers. It’s projected that by 2025, an addition 480,000 workers will be required to work in the care sector and simultaneously 430,000 people will leave the care sector, as they reach the age of retirement. 

Sponsoring migrants is a great way to strengthen the workforce within the care sector, but it’s sadly a route some people use to exploit individuals. 

This is due to situations such as individuals not being given the hours they are promised, being charged excessive fees to enter the UK, and for women in particular working within domiciliary settings, they are forced to wait alone in bus shelters between shifts, they cannot access safe transport, and some are forced to share accommodation where they can be subjected to unwanted advances.

These vulnerable and exploited workers are being further exposed to potential perpetrators of VAWG (Violence Against Women and Girls). 

The conference focussed on educating organisations on spotting the signs of exploitation, domestic servitude, and modern slavery, as well as providing information on how to ensure they are complying with the regulations on their certificate of sponsorship, which allows them to support migrants coming to work in the UK.

During the conference two individuals explained their personal accounts of being exploited, and how this has impacted them. 

The GLAA also spoke at the conference, with senior field intelligence officer Lee Kennedy discussing the key elements of exploitation, how the GLAA can assist and what we investigate, and the work we do with other organisations such as the charity Unseen and Justice and Care, who were present at the conference.

He also spoke about the future of the GLAA and the work towards the move into the Fair Work Agency, which will look to bridge gaps that leave people open to exploitation.

Lee said: “It was a great conference that really opened the discussion about exploitation and the experiences people go through, and the role migrant workers play in strengthening our workforce. 

“There are so many resources and organisations on hand to help migrants and businesses understand the requirements to ensure the safety of their migrant workers, and this conference educated people on what they should do, and the consequences they may face if they don’t. 

“If you know of a business operating outside the law, exploiting workers, then you can call 0800 432 0804 or email us at contact@gla.gov.uk. If you believe there to be an immediate danger, please dial 999.”