Modern slavery risks across UK construction sites are still common, according to a report finding unexplained deductions from wages, a lack of PPE and ‘informal or unclear’ employment arrangements
On-the-ground interviews with 9,834 workers representing 102 nationalities, across hundreds of sites in the UK and Ireland, has revealed that those most vulnerable to exploitation are facing many modern slavery risk indicators.
The latest UK Ethical Business Report from Achilles examines the progress made and still to be done in tackling modern slavery and unethical employment practices in the UK and Irish construction industries.
Key issues identified include:
- Recruitment fees charged to workers
- Unexplained deductions from wages
- Restricted access to mobile phones
- Lack of free personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Informal or unclear employment arrangements
These concerns issues are especially exacerbated for migrant workers who may have limited English proficiency or awareness of their employment rights in the UK.
In 2022, Operation Cardinas – one of the UK’s largest modern slavery investigations, documented how a criminal gang infiltrated contractors, agencies and umbrella firm payroll providers across London and the South East and placed hundred of forced labourers on major construction sites.
Legislation to prevent modern slavery is frequently being updated, but there are still gaps being exploited
The report also reflects on the evolving legal landscape, including the influence of the UK Modern Slavery Act (2015) and Australia’s 2018 legislation, which specifically targeted exploitation in supply chains.
While such frameworks have brought attention to the issues, the findings highlight gaps in enforcement and inadequate safeguards that continue to place workers at risk.
The report outlines several areas where construction businesses can strengthen their approach to ensuring ethical labour practices. These include:
- enhancing training on modern slavery indicators
- improving the clarity of employment terms provided to workers
- adopting more consistent employment standards across the supply chain
The report also highlights the value of collaboration across the sector, with contractors, regulators, and third-party organisations, to support continuous improvement and reduce risk.
You can read the full report here.
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