Combating modern slavery in UK construction

Eleven major construction firms and labour agencies have joined forces with anti-slavery charity Unseen to release a short film that sheds light on labour exploitation in the UK’s construction industry.

The film, created in collaboration with companies including Berkeley Group, Laing O’Rourke, Skanska, Morgan Sindall Group, and Kier Group, highlights the common forms of modern slavery found on construction sites. These issues include workers facing excessive hours, missing contracts, and illegal wage deductions, all of which are warning signs of exploitation.

Labour exploitation made up 35% of all modern slavery cases and 58% of potential victims reported to the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline in 2023. Construction is particularly vulnerable due to its reliance on subcontracted labour and complex supply chains, which increase the risk of worker exploitation.

Andrew Wallis OBE, CEO of Unseen, said: "It’s encouraging to see major firms in the construction industry stepping forward to address this issue. By providing tools and resources to combat modern slavery, they are empowering not only themselves but also smaller businesses on the ground where these issues are most prevalent."

The film is designed to raise awareness among workers and management about how to spot exploitation. It will be used across the sector in training sessions and site inductions, aiming to improve the identification and reporting of labour abuses on construction sites.

This collaborative effort stresses the importance of educating the entire construction supply chain, with the aim of reducing the incidence of modern slavery within the industry.

Unseen is also offering tailored support, training, and resources for businesses looking to strengthen their efforts against worker exploitation.

For more information or to get support, Unseen can be contacted at [email protected].