The price we don’t pay: modern slavery in UK agriculture 

In this first part of the series, “The Price We Don’t Pay”, we explore how exploitation has taken root under the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme and how Unseen is working towards a fairer farming system.
modern slavery in UK agriculture. Image of two seasonal workers holding a basket of fruit.

For many, rolling green fields and bountiful harvests define British agriculture. However, a hidden reality lurks beneath this idyllic image. An estimated 122,000 people are victims of modern slavery in the UK, and agriculture remains one of the most vulnerable sectors. 

This raises a critical question: why do these practices continue, and what can be done to eradicate them? 

“The Price We Don’t Pay” is a three-part blog series, tracing the hidden issue of modern slavery across the entire UK food chain — from farm to fork. This first part delves into the vulnerabilities of agriculture workers and the impact of the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme. We’ll also share solutions for businesses committed to tackle this complex issue. 

The UK agriculture sector

From fertile fields to supermarket shelves, the UK’s agriculture sector forms the backbone of our food system. It encompasses diverse activities, like crop cultivation and livestock rearing, connecting countless individuals and businesses across various sectors.  

However, frequent headlines have long exposed agriculture supply chains with modern slavery, particularly in the wake of the UK’s 2019 Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme and the sector’s reliance of seasonal labour. 

And according to our UK Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, the agriculture and farming sector has consistently ranked in the top five sectors for labour exploitation for the past four years. 

Labour shortages and the seasonal worker scheme

To meet seasonal demands, the UK has historically relied on overseas workers, particularly during peak summer workloads. However, concerns arose following Brexit regarding potential labour shortages. This led to the introduction of the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme in 2019, allowing employers to recruit temporary overseas workers for specific agricultural tasks.  

Concerns and challenges behind the scheme

While the scheme aimed to address labour needs, it has also brought increased awareness of exploitative practices within the UK agricultural sector.

The vulnerability of seasonal agriculture workers to exploitation stems from factors like: 

  • Remote and isolated geographical locations. 
  • Intense labour requirements.  
  • An unstable labour supply. 
  • Onsite accommodation. 
  • Language barriers. 
  • Limited awareness of worker rights in the UK 
  • Limited contract periods. 
  • Low awareness of reporting mechanisms. 
  • Fear or threats of deportation. 
  • Debt and wage deductions. 
  • Reliance on third-party recruiters. 
  • False promises of accommodation or job. 

Pre-Brexit, most overseas workers came from EU member states. Now, workers arrive from countries with fewer established relationships, making them potentially more vulnerable. Additionally, the scheme’s implementation has coincided with global instability, with events such as the pandemic, the Ukraine war, and the cost-of-living crisis, further raising concerns about worker vulnerability in the UK.  

Data from the government reveals that in 2023, 30,460 Seasonal Worker visas were issued. Workers from countries like Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan were among the nationalities where the highest number of visas were issued under the scheme.

modern slavery in UK agriculture. Image of old bearded man, kneeling down, picking crops.
How exploitation takes root: recruitment tactics and methods of control

Unseen’s Helpline data highlights concerning trends in how exploitation occurs within the agricultural sector. Here are some common tactics used by exploiters:

  • Deceptive recruitment: job offers may appear legitimate, but false promises and misleading information are prevalent. 
  • Debt bondage: recruiters might offer to cover visa fees or travel costs, trapping workers in debt bondage as they’re forced to repay inflated costs. 

Methods of control often include:

  • Threats of deportation or job loss: workers are threatened with deportation or losing their jobs if they speak up about poor working conditions. This is especially concerning for migrant workers who may have paid high recruitment fees to come to the UK, making them more fearful of losing their job and the ability to pay those debts. 
  • Isolation and poor living conditions: workers are housed in remote locations with inadequate facilities, creating a sense of isolation and vulnerability. 
  • Lack of awareness of rights:unfamiliarity with basic UK employment rights makes migrant workers easy targets, unsure if their treatment is fair or how to report it. Even if they are aware of a whistleblowing mechanism, fear of retaliation often prevents them from speaking up. 

These issues are well documented within the agriculture sector, not just in the UK, but across the globe. To better protect workers, there needs to be clear and accessible communication about workers’ rights in the UK, and how workers can access appropriate third-party grievance mechanisms.  

This includes providing workers with an understanding of the types of issues that infringe on their rights and the concerns they should report, emphasising the safety of reporting issues without fear of reprisal. 

Ensuring effective reporting mechanisms in agriculture

A recent report by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI) highlights the importance of effective reporting mechanisms for protecting agricultural workers. ETI found that many workers in Spain and Italy, employed within supply chains of UK businesses, lacked confidence and feared repercussions when it came to raising concerns. Most were unaware of what issues they could report, and few had ever done so. 

This lack of accessible reporting channels is a clear issue across Europe. However, the UK offers a valuable resource: the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline, run by Unseen This 24/7, independent and confidential service provides translators in over 250 languages and the option to speak with female advisors, catering to a wide range of worker needs. 

The Helpline is already playing an important reporting role in UK agriculture, with 49 cases raised in 2023. Through collaboration and clear communication, we can ensure the Helpline’s purpose is widely understood and accessible. This will empower workers to seek vital support without fear of reprisal. 

A shared responsibility: tackling modern slavery in UK agriculture

The responsibility to prevent worker exploitation in UK agriculture falls on all shoulders – businesses, labour providers, and growers. Businesses face increasingly demanding legislation reflecting the known environmental and human rights risks within food chains. By leveraging your influence within the supply chain, you can play a crucial role in protecting workers while also staying compliant. 

Unseen offers support through its Helpline Business Portal, a valuable tool to identify and address potential exploitation risks within their supply chains. It goes beyond simply offering support; it equips businesses with actionable intelligence. Here’s how:

  • Early warning system: Leveraging real-time data from our 24/7 Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, Portal members receive alerts on potential forced labour and labour abuse within their sectors. This allows for proactive monitoring and risk mitigation. 
  • Enhanced transparency: The Portal fosters transparency by providing businesses with insights into potential exploitation cases within their supply chains. 
  • Collaborative action: When cases arise involving shared suppliers, Unseen facilitates communication and joint action planning between Portal members, retailers, suppliers, labour providers, and other stakeholders in the sector. Collaborative calls help address concerns, establish next steps, and prevent future issues.

As of 2023, the Business Portal has already supported over 20 businesses, including major companies like Marks & Spencer, Tesco, and Aldi.

Join the anti-slavery movement

Eradicating modern slavery in UK agriculture requires a collaborative effort. By working together, businesses, NGOs, and the government can create a robust system that safeguards workers’ rights and promotes a more ethical and sustainable food chain.

Looking to make a difference? Unseen Business provides a community of forward-thinking companies committed to tackling modern slavery. We offer exclusive insights, resources, and support to help businesses identify and address risks within their supply chains.  
 
Contact us today at [email protected] to find out more or book in a free consultation with the Business team.  

Explore the full series

Our series, “The Price We Don’t Pay,” delves deep into the hidden issue of modern slavery within the entire UK food chain – from farm to fork. Aimed to empower UK food businesses to tackle risks, each part tackles a specific sector: 

Related stories

Justine Currell

As I came to understand more about the issue, including through a visit to an Unseen safehouse, I knew I needed to do more to stop this abuse and exploitation.

For the last five years of my Civil Service career, I was the Modern Slavery Senior Policy Advisor in the Home Office and led on development of the Modern Slavery Act, including the transparency in supply chains provision and business guidance.

I joined Unseen to lead the development of the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, and Unseen’s work with businesses. I am regularly called upon to present at national and international conferences and use my experience of working with Ministers to influence other governments internationally to take action to address modern slavery and, in particular, business supply chain issues.

In my spare time I enjoy keeping fit, music, reading and travelling.

Andrew Wallis

What ultimately compelled me to act was a report on how people from Eastern Europe were being trafficked through Bristol airport to the USA. Kate Garbers, who went on to be an Unseen Director, and I wrote to all the city councillors, MPs and the Police Chief Constable challenging them on the issue. The challenge came back to us: this city needs safe housing for trafficked women. And so Unseen began.

But we never wanted Unseen to be just about safe housing. We wanted to end slavery once and for all, and that remains our driving focus.

I chaired the working group for the Centre for Social Justice’s landmark report “It Happens Here: Equipping the United Kingdom to Fight Modern Slavery”. This is now acknowledged as the catalyst behind the UK’s Modern Slavery Act of 2015. It was a great honour to be awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours that year. On the other hand, I’ve also been described as “the loveliest disrupter you could ever hope to meet”.

This job has taken me from building flat-pack furniture for safehouses, to working with businesses to address slavery in supply chains, to delivering training, raising awareness and advising governments around the world.

When not at work, I enjoy travelling, spending time with my dog Harley, cooking, supporting Liverpool and Yorkshire CC, music (I’m a former DJ) and endurance events such as the Three Peaks Challenge and Tribe Freedom Runs – which I vow never to do again. Until the next time.