South West Recruitment Ltd
Anti-Slavery Policy
South West Recruitment Ltd is committed to the prevention of Modern Slavery and Worker Exploitation in any form it may take. With help from the http://stronger2gether.org/ initiative we will strive to abolish the cruel crimes associated with Modern Slavery. To aid workers who register with us who may appear distressed or vulnerable please always have the 5 questions below in mind to ask them. Please ensure you report any suspicious activity to the management of South West Recruitment so we can contact the authorities on the telephone numbers provided.
We need your help to reduce the exploitation of migrant workers by criminal gangs and abusive individuals
- Are you forced to do work when you don’t want to?
- Do you have to pay someone money to give you work?
- Are you forced to live in accommodation against your will?
- Is someone controlling your identity documents or bank account?
- Is someone threatening or intimidating you or your family?
If you or someone you know answers YES to any of these questions:
- Report it to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority on 0800 432 0804 or Modern Slavery Helpline on 0800 0121 700 or at https://www.modernslaveryhelpline.org/report.
- Call the Police in an emergency on 999, or 101 if it is not urgent.
Potential Indicators of labour exploitation:
The following list of monitoring measures and “flags” may help to identify potential situations of exploitation:
Restricted Freedom – Victims may:
• May not be in possession of passport or other ID
• Be unable to leave their work environment
• Show signs that their movement is being controlled
• Be threatened by the presence of authorities
• Be subjected to security measures and controls to keep them on premises
• Depend on employer for work, transport or accommodation without any choice
• May only travel with other workers
• Have limited/controlled contact to family or people outside their immediate environment
• Forced to shop at a place they would not normally visit
• No access to medical care
• Be in a situation of dependance
• Be given leftovers to eat
• Be sourced from high risk trafficking areas
• Be subjected to violence or threats against themselves or their family members
• Have false ID papers
Behaviour – Victims may:
• Allow others to speak for them when addressed
• Be unfamiliar with local language
• Be afraid of revealing their immigration status or other identification data
• Act as if they are instructed by someone else
• Have limited or no social interaction either in the workplace or at their accommodation
• Believe they must work, even though it may be against their will
• Be distrustful of authorities
• Never leave their workplace without their employer or someone who appears to control them
• Have to resor to crime in order to get food or money for food
• Show fear or anxiety
• Feel that they cannot leave
• Have acted on a basis of false promises
• May need to scavenge for food
• Have to resort to crime in order to get food or money for food
• Be forced to commit crime if there is no work
Working Conditions – Victims may:
• Have no contract
• Be unable to negotiate working conditions
• Be unable to choose when or where they work
• Work excessively long hours
• Not have any days off
• Not interact with other work colleagues
• Lack basic training or professional licences
Accommodation – Victims may:
• Not know their home address
• Live in poor standard accommodation
• Have no choice in where they live
• Live in groups in the some place they work
• Live in degrading, unsuitable places
Appearance – Victims may:
• Suffer injuries that appear to be as a result of an assault
• Suffer injuries or impairments typical of certain jobs or control measures
• Suffer injuries that appear to be as a result of the application or control measures
• Have injuries that appear old or untreated
• Wear the same clothes each day
Finances – Victims may:
• Receive little or no pay
• Have no access to their earnings
• Be disciplined or controlled through punishment or fines
• Have had the fees for their transport to the country of destination paid for by facilitators, whom they must repay
• Be told they can pay debts for transport or accommodation whey they are found work
• Be under the perception that they are bonded by debt
• Be charged for services they neither want or need
• Forced to open bank accounts
• Forced to sign documents for benefits
• Bank cards/documents held by someone else
