Sector - Education & Training

CIOB: UK and migrant construction workers at risk of exploitation



A newly published report from the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) has revealed that UK and migrant construction workers are at risk of exploitation.

In its report – entitled ‘Construction and the Modern Slavery Act, tackling exploitation in the UK‘ – CIOB takes aim at the industry’s laboured response to the Modern Slavery Act of 2015 and underscores the aggressive business models that are creating an environment ripe for unethical procurement and recruitment practices.

Typically, major contractors have long and fragmented supply chains with little visibility beyond tiers one or two. They are also heavily reliant on temporary migrant labour – a significant indicator of risk according to CIOB. And yet, there is widespread complacency and disbelief that major projects are vulnerable to criminal infiltration and human trafficking, despite a host of incidents around modern slavery on major UK infrastructure schemes.

Now, CIOB is calling for a new narrative: asking contractors to acknowledge that every supply chain is at risk and collaborate more widely to combat exploitation. Chris Blythe, Chief Executive of the CIOB, said: “It’s time to get real about the challenges facing UK construction. Contrary to public perceptions, modern slavery is not confined to small illegal operators. Criminals are attracted to big business because of the greater profits that they can earn. Unscrupulous labour providers, operating in the grey area of the law, are also creating misery for thousands of British and foreign workers.

“We need to change the conversation that we have with clients, our peers and the media. Suppliers and labour agencies should be rewarded for finding and reporting problems, contractors need to promote fairer business models and clients need to be more explicit about their ethical expectations. This goes to the heart of professional leadership. We need to empower everyone working in this industry to act, share and collaborate for the greater good.”

Andrew Wallis is CEO of anti-slavery charity Unseen, which operates the Modern Slavery Helpline. He said: “The exponential growth in calls to the UK’s Modern Slavery Helpline since its launch in October 2016 clearly shows that the scale and complexity of the problems faced in this country are much greater than originally thought. Over 72% of potential victims indicated through the Helpline in 2017 were because of situations of labour exploitation or forced labour with 58% of victims identified as male. The construction sector represented the third most prevalent type of forced labour exploitation cases reported. Economic abuse and isolation were the most common forms of control by the enslavers.

Mr Wallis continued: “The fundamental challenge the construction sector faces is that its default business practices facilitate forced labour exploitation. An extractive profit model, based on a repeating subcontracting framework, has created the conditions for illicit traders in human beings to flourish. When added to the fact that many companies are not proactively engaging with the spirit of the transparency in supply chain legislation, the perfect environment exists for people to be exploited.

“Unless there is a wholesale review of current ways of working, we should not be surprised that we continue to have problems in this sector. Tinkering around the edges will not deliver the freedoms victims deserve.”

The CIOB’s report can be read in full at: https://bit.ly/2IkG4D8

If you would like to read more articles like this then please click here.

  •