Today marks 10 years since the Modern Slavery Act, which centered on support for victims of trafficking.

But trafficking must be stopped before it happens; if we only ever focus on support for victims, the cycle only continues.

Now, with the Employment Rights Bill going through Parliament, there is a real opportunity to address the conditions which allow trafficking to thrive.

FLEX’s latest briefing details what changes could be made to the Employment Rights Bill to address the causes of trafficking. These include:

• Strengthening the proposed Fair Work Agency
• Ending short term work visas
• Creating Bridging Visas,
• Separating labour market inspections from immigration enforcement

Letter: Calling on Labour Market Enforcement and a future Fair Work Agency to address labour exploitation in fishing

The majority of migrant fishers working for UK companies on UK flagged vessels are currently excluded from accessing some of the most basic protections available under UK employment law. This drives down employment standards in fishing and, combined with a lack of proactive monitoring and labour market enforcement, creates significant risks of exploitation and abuse.

This letter was written to ensure that UK fishing is included within the remit of the Fair Work Agency, and to work with decision-makers to ensure that this issue finally gets the attention and action that is so sorely needed.

In Case You Missed It: Briefing – Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill: Still a Tool for Exploitation

The gaps in the UK’s systems to prevent, identify and address exploitation, including trafficking and modern slavery, have been well evidenced for years.

The Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill misses a crucial opportunity to drive meaningful change to ensure that all victims of exploitation are protected, whatever their immigration status.

Read the new FLEX briefing exploring how it entirely misses the mark: