LPOG8360 - Stakeholders: Illegal working and modern slavery: What is illegal working and modern slavery?
What is illegal working (IW)?
- Illegal working means the employment of those who have no right to be in the UK or who are working beyond their visa restrictions.
- Illegal workers are often subject to underpayment and poor treatment, and in the worst cases human trafficking and modern slavery. Employers who use illegal workers may also fail to declare their income or business, defrauding the exchequer and competing unfairly against law-abiding businesses.
Whilst having no right to be in the UK/working beyond visa restrictions affects those from outside the EEA, exploitation including modern slavery can also affect those from within the EEA, including the UK.
What is modern slavery (MS)?
Modern Slavery Act 2015 states that modern slavery offences encompass slavery, servitude and forced or compulsory labour and human trafficking including facilitating an individual’s travel with the intention of exploiting them soon after.
Human trafficking includes exploitation involving:
- Sexual exploitation
- Forced Labour
- Domestic servitude
- Organ harvesting
- Child related crimes such as child sexual exploitation, forced begging, illegal drug cultivation, organised theft, related benefit frauds etc.
- Forced marriage and illegal adoption (if other constituent elements are present
Business areas traditionally associated with low skilled and low paid employment are considered high risk areas for illegal working and modern slavery.
Abuse is not always explicit and the victims may not see themselves as being victims due to the influences of ‘controlling minds’.