Why we all need to know more about Modern Slavery
September 09, 2024Posted by:
PeoplePlus Social Value Solutions Manager, Craig Corrigan PHD, reflects on the subject of the next Social Recruitment Advocacy Group Lunch and Learn, on Tuesday 10th September at 1 pm.
"Before I started working with Social Recruitment Advocacy Group Members Smart Environmental Support Services on their Charter Mark assessment, I didn’t know very much about Modern Slavery at all.
I had some ideas, picked up from news headlines, social media, maybe even TV drama, but now I see how much of the picture I was missing. I've also talked to colleagues at our sister company, Staffline, who actively campaign to help employees understand their rights. Staffline are passionate advocates for the prevention of modern slavery and encourage clients to participate in their campaign. They want to help more and more people feel confident to report exploitative practices, whether experienced personally, or on behalf of others.
Not enough of us are talking about this. Preparing this session has helped me appreciate how quickly the goal posts change, and how many of the practices rely on us not noticing what is all around us.
Despite the work to tackle the issue, I’m saddened by how widespread and changeable the types of exploitation, isolation, coercion, and control still are.
Did you know that in 2021, the National Crime Agency reported 12,727 potential victims of modern slavery? 31% of those people referred to authorities were British nationals and included 5,468 potential child victims. Just one year later, this number was up to 16,938 referrals, five times as many as when the Modern Slavery Act was passed in 2015. If that’s not bad enough, consider that the Global Slavery index suggests those officially reported case numbers are too low, and that in reality around 136,000 people are living in modern slavery conditions in the UK.
With statistics like that, I can’t be alone in needing to know more about how to actively combat the exploitation that leads to appalling experiences for thousands of people every day. Nail bars, building works, car washes, ordinary homes – there are people in forms of slavery everywhere. Beyond my personal embarrassment about not realising how common this is, I’m starting to understand that exploiting workers is made easier by loopholes, duplication, and processes where accountability can’t be traced quickly. Organised criminals continuously adapt their tactics, so there is never room for complacency, I feel the responsibility is on all of us to learn how to notice it and how to act when we do.
I hope this explains why I’m so pleased that we’ll be bringing together Christopher Raine-Ellerker from Staffline, with Jade Oliver-Morris from SMART to form a panel of experts for our next SRAG online Lunch and Learn session on the 10th of September at 1 pm.
I am hoping that by creating more conversation around the topic and supporting employers to have conversations with their supply chains, together we can make the SRAG a powerful force for good in driving out modern slavery in the UK."
This lunch and learn session on Understanding the Risks of Modern Slavery is universally relevant and all are welcome to join us.
Just go to Eventbrite to register, https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e... or message us at [email protected] and we’ll be in touch with your link to join.
September 09, 2024Posted by:
