A stark warning has been issued about the prevalence of modern slavery within the UK's construction sector, with new data revealing it as a significant area of risk for labour exploitation.
Helpline Data Reveals Disturbing Trend
According to the antislavery charity Unseen, the construction industry ranks as the second-highest sector for reports of exploitation, trailing only behind the care sector. In 2024 alone, the charity's helpline received 492 calls related to construction, highlighting a troubling and emerging trend. This cornerstone of the British economy, vital for delivering the government's plan to build 1.5 million homes, is showing systemic vulnerabilities.
CCLA, the UK's largest charity asset manager, has consistently raised alarms. Their analysis indicates that the construction industry underperforms in complying with the 2015 Modern Slavery Act. The sector's physically demanding work, heavy reliance on migrant labour, and often isolated, invisible worksites create conditions where exploitation can thrive unnoticed.
Government and Industry Under Pressure
Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips addressed these concerns during a private meeting with senior construction representatives and civil society groups. She stated, "The construction sector is vital to our national ambition and our economy, but it is also vulnerable. The risk of exploitation is incredibly high in this sector." She urged a cultural shift, adding, "If you are not finding it, I would suggest you are not looking hard enough."
While a new employment rights bill moving through parliament aims to bolster worker protections, organisations like the Work Rights Centre argue the measures do not go far enough. Recent research from the University of Oxford further identified significant gaps in knowledge about modern slavery in construction, warning that without better data and enforcement, the true scale of the problem will remain hidden.
A Victim's Harrowing Story
The human cost of this exploitation is devastating, as shown by the case of Frank, a pseudonym for a man trafficked from Barbados with his 14-year-old son. Lured by the promise of a good salary, he endured over three years of slavery. "If I don't do the work, they were gonna kill my son – I had no choice," he recounted.
Frank described working in extreme conditions, hungry and poorly equipped, moving between private homes where clients were unaware of the abuse. After his health deteriorated, he was eventually dumped with his son in a strange neighbourhood. His story is a chilling testament to the hidden suffering within the industry.
Sara Thornton, Director of Modern Slavery at CCLA, summarised the systemic issues: "Multiple layers of subcontracting, the use of casual labour and skill shortages mean that the construction sector remains at high risk of labour exploitation in the UK." This crisis threatens to undermine the very foundations of the nation's growth and building ambitions.
