A summer of risk for workers

The context 

The report describes a sector under pressure – with many job losses and escalating overheads due to higher National Insurance contributions, rising costs for food, ingredients and energy, and an increase in the national minimum wage. When businesses are facing financial challenges it “may create the conditions for exploitation and modern slavery to thrive.” 

The workers 

Unseen outlines the average demographic of workers: “More so than other industries, average wages in hospitality are low, and staff are often young and from minority ethnic backgrounds or born overseas.” 

Of the hospitality cases reported to the Helpline, the most common nationalities were India, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, Pakistan, Nepal and China. 

The conditions 

Exploitation always comes on a spectrum from extreme cases of modern slavery through to worker rights abuses such as withholding national minimum wage, working long or excessive hours, having inadequate breaks or insufficient leave, unfair wage deductions or unpaid extra hours. 

According to Unseen, “hospitality is a sector where exploitation has been indicated consistently, at both ends of the scale from worker rights abuses in labour abuse cases to extreme cases of modern slavery where people feel unable to leave the situation. Many hospitality roles involve unsociable hours, long shifts and low pay, as well as much of the workforce being hidden from public view, making them more susceptible to exploitative practices.” 

Risk to migrants 

The Helpline saw a notable increase in the proportion of modern slavery potential victims that are on skilled worker visas. This is worrying and reflects a similar trend in the care sector where migrant workers are encouraged to move to the UK, often with the promise of a high salary and good accommodation, but the reality is very different.  

Unseen explains: “some workers have reported sharing one-bed accommodation with multiple people, sleeping on chairs or sofa beds in their work premises, and living in storage cupboards or caravans on site. Excessive sums for rent are commonly deducted from salaries, bringing already low earnings down even further, often far below the national minimum wage. Workers can feel incredibly trapped in exploitative situations when leaving their job could also mean becoming homeless.” 

Often illegal fees are charged in exchange for visas and certificates of sponsorship and workers are threatened with having their visas revoked or being deported if they complain. Migrant workers find themselves in debt bondage, owing thousands of pounds to employers for visa fees.  

According to the Employer Pays Principle (EPP), employers are required to bear all costs relating to recruitment. But Unseen says “in practice, this principle is not being followed by many employers, who have not only made migrant workers pay for their visas and certificates of sponsorship, but also charged exorbitant fees. Qualitative data from the Helpline provides examples of hospitality workers being illegally charged between £4,000 and £30,000 by their employers for ‘visa fees’, with average debts equaling £18,271. ... they are in a situation of debt bondage to their employer paying off money owed incrementally through salary deductions. These deductions often leave workers with little to no money to sustain themselves, let alone the resources to leave the situation. Pressure is often exerted to work long hours without breaks or days off to work off the debt.” 

Spot the signs 

• If you are in a hospitality business that uses agencies, labour providers, or umbrella companies, you have a legal and ethical responsibility to make sure supplied workers are properly paid, safe, and treated fairly. The most reliable checks fall into four categories: verifying pay arrangements, checking employment status and payroll, ensuring safe working conditions, and auditing the labour‑supply chain.  

Ask for evidence that your workers are receiving the National Minimum Wage after all deductions. Make sure your team get proper induction and training for the tasks they perform and are not under pressure to work excessive or unpaid hours. Finally, provide clear channels for workers to report mistreatment, bullying, or unsafe conditions. 

• If you live in a tourist spot, make sure you keep an eye on the temporary workers around you. Get to know your neighbours or colleagues and look out for signs of poor accommodation, over-work, or vulnerable or unhappy workers.  

   

• If you are heading to a tourist destination this summer, stay vigilant for signs of modern slavery such as cramped accommodation (including sleeping or napping somewhere which doesn’t seem appropriate such as an office, storage room or shed), excessive hours (for example if you see someone still working 12 hours later or very early or very late shifts, or doesn’t appear to have a day off), underpayment of wages or harassment by employers.  

Also be aware that holiday rentals and hotels can be used as a site to manage people under other forms of exploitation, including county lines or sexual exploitation. Rooms may be paid for in cash, one day at a time, and you may notice a lot of different people going in or out, surveillance or watching the room (not leaving a victim alone fully). Victims might not be appropriately addressed for the weather (or their age), have very little 'luggage' for someone on holiday, not speak freely, avoid communicating with staff or authorities, have signs of confusion, abuse or disorientation, not leave the room even for meals, be subdued due to drug or alcohol use, or not carry their own IDs, phone or wallet. All of these could be warning signs of modern slavery and exploitation.