'Forced labour' of migrants in the UK food industry

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18070849

15 May 2012

Summary:

The Joseph Rountree Foundation has published a report about migrants working in the UK food industry. The authors interviewed 62 foreign workers. The workers live in fear, because they are often threatened by their bosses.  Many workers have lent money from agencies to come to the UK. They are underpaid; they earn hardly enough money to repay their debt. Businesses which provide labour in the food industry  have to be licensed under the Gangmaster Licensing Act (GLA). This Act was set up to prevent the exploitation of workers. The authors of the report ask for support from the unions and they want Customs to tackle minimum wage violations.

Opinion:

It is scandalous that there is apparently not enough investigation in working circumstances in the UK food industry. The GLA body should play a greater active role in the detection of miserable circumstances and the unions should help to abolish these circumstances. Employers who exploit their employees should be persecuted in law. The exploitation is a form of modern slavery and forced labour is a criminal offence in the UK. Many workers cannot escape their miserable situation because they do not earn enough money to repay their debt. Besides, the possibility should be given to foreign workers to follow English classes, so they can learn about their rights.