The Human Trafficking Foundation is hosting an online forum to explore the recent increase in reported cases of modern slavery and exploitation in the care sector. 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 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 exploitation.