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We know that exploitation in the care sector is rife, exacerbated by labour shortages, a reliance on workers from overseas and low pay as standard. The Modern Slavery Helpline reported a 606% increase in the number of modern slavery care sector cases between 2021 and 2022. As well as poor working conditions, debt bondage is a substantial and increasing issue, as is receiving no work upon arrival in the UK despite a previous job offer, leaving people in limbo and at risk of wider exploitation.

This online forum will bring together a range of speakers to understand what is driving this increase in exploitation, how the exploitation manifests, the responsibilities of different agencies for monitoring and overseeing the care sector and, crucially, what can be done to support workers and mitigate the risk of exploitation.

Confirmed speakers:

Martin Plimmer, Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, to contextualise the issue and explore reasons for the increase in cases

Natalie Sadacca, Assistant Professor in Employment Law at Durham University, giving an overview of the visa and financial landscape

Wendy Sims, Sandwell Council, discussing the issue of no work on arrival and a local response

Francis Farik, Pan-African Workers Association, to discuss how labour abuse is playing out within care homes

Nadra Ahmed, National Care Association, exploring a look to the future – what challenges are regulatory bodies facing in the protection of migrant care workers, and what changes need implementing on local and policy levels?

There will also be an opportunity to join the discussion, with the speakers forming a Q&A panel.