What is Modern Slavery?

Slavery is often considered a relic of the past, something taught in schools and read about in history books. However, slavery is far from being a horror of the past. Shockingly, almost 50 million people are trapped in modern slavery globally at this very moment, and the number keeps growing.

What is Modern Slavery?

Modern slavery is an umbrella term that covers any situation whereby individuals are exploited and cannot refuse or leave due to threats, violence, deception, coercion, or abuse of power. Unlike historical slavery, where individuals were legally owned by someone else, modern slavery operates secretly, often hidden in plain sight.

Types of Modern Slavery

Modern slavery presents in several ways, such as:

1. Human trafficking: The recruitment, transportation, or harbouring of people through force, fraud, or coercion with the intention of exploitation.
2. Forced labour: People are compelled to work against their will under threat of or actual violence towards themselves or their families.
3. Debt bondage: Where an individual is forced to work without pay to repay a loan, often under exploitative terms, such as excessive interest, that make repayment impossible.
4. Child slavery: The exploitation of children for labour or other harmful activities, depriving them of education, play, and a safe childhood.
5. Forced marriage: When someone is married against their free will, often involving young girls who face violence and abuse in these relationships.

The Scale of Modern Slavery

The global scale of modern slavery is staggering, even for those who are familiar with the numbers. Today, it is estimated that around 50 million people are living in conditions of modern slavery. Of those, 28 million are in forced labour, with 86% being in the private sector. One in eight of those in forced labour are children. An additional 22 million people are trapped in forced marriages.

Women and girls are disproportionately affected, making up 71% of those in modern slavery, particularly in cases of sexual exploitation and forced marriages. Children account for 25% of all victims of modern slavery.

Modern slavery is not just a human rights problem—it is a lucrative criminal profit centre. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimates that forced labour generates around $150 billion in profits annually, fuelling other illegal activities across the globe.

Why Does Modern Slavery Continue to Exist?

Several factors contribute to the persistence of modern slavery:

1. Poverty and inequality: Many victims come from impoverished backgrounds, lacking education or opportunities. Traffickers exploit these vulnerabilities by offering false promises of better lives.
2. Weak legal enforcement: In many countries, worker protections are weak or not enforced. Corruption among officials also allows perpetrators to evade justice and victims to go unnoticed.
3. Conflict and displacement: War and natural disasters displace millions, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. Refugees and migrants are especially at risk as traffickers prey on their desperation for safety and a better life.
4. Demand for cheap labour: Many industries are looking to cut costs from their production processes, often unrealistically. The demand for lower prices leads to forced labour, illegal wages, and poor working conditions.

Spotting the Signs of Modern Slavery

Modern slavery often hides in plain sight, making it difficult to recognise. However, there are key signs that can indicate someone may be a victim. Unseen UK says that knowing these signs can be crucial in helping victims escape their situation. Some indicators are:

1. Physical Appearance: Victims of modern slavery may show signs of physical abuse, malnutrition, or exhaustion. They may lack adequate clothing for their work or have untreated injuries.
2. Isolation: Victims are often kept isolated from society through physical confinement and control over communication. They may rarely leave their place of work or residence and avoid eye contact or conversations.
3. Lack of Personal Freedom: If a person is always accompanied by someone who seems to be controlling or speaking on their behalf, this could be a sign of modern slavery. Victims may also not have access to their identity documents.
4. Poor Living Conditions: Victims are often forced to live in overcrowded, unsanitary, or dangerous conditions. They may have limited access to necessities like food, water, or medical care.
5. Unusual Working Conditions: Victims of forced labour often work long hours for little to no pay, sometimes in hazardous environments. They may be unable to leave their workplace, mainly if they live on-site.
6. Fear of Authorities: Victims may be fearful of law enforcement or hesitant to seek help, especially if they are undocumented or have been threatened with deportation or harm to their families if they speak up.

Recognising these signs in people you encounter daily, at work, or in public can be the first step toward freeing someone from modern slavery. If you suspect someone is a victim, call Unseen UK on 08000 121 700 for help.

What Can Be Done to End Modern Slavery?

1. Stronger legislation: While some countries have introduced laws requiring businesses to disclose their efforts to eliminate modern slavery from their supply chains, these measures are not always adequately enforced. Tougher penalties and more robust regulations are needed to truly make a difference.
2. Improved international cooperation: Organisations such as the ILO, Walk Free, and the United Nations are working across borders to combat modern slavery, but more global cooperation is needed to enforce laws, share intelligence, and protect victims.

Recognising Modern Slavery in Everyday Life

Modern slavery often operates in plain sight. It may be present in the production of the clothes you wear, the food you eat, or even in domestic settings like cleaners or cooks. People trapped in modern slavery face threats, poor living conditions, violence, removal of all freedoms and often little to no pay for their hard work.

It’s alarming to know that nearly 1 in every 150 people globally is living in some form of modern slavery. The most vulnerable—migrant workers, refugees, and those living in poverty—are disproportionately affected. As war, pandemics, and climate change continue to create instability, the numbers of those trapped in modern slavery are higher than ever.

The Path Forward

Awareness is the first step toward tackling modern slavery, but we cannot stop there. The fight against modern slavery is far from over, but with collective effort, it can become a horror of the past—where it belongs.

Contact Us

Verisio helps businesses tackle modern slavery concerns by offering comprehensive due diligence services, ensuring supply chains are effectively risk-managed and businesses meet their legal requirements. Some of our key clients include Dunelm, White Stuff and Travis Perkins Group. If you want to know more, please reach out to us here for a no-obligation call.