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A #BBC investigation revealed long-overlooked signs of #modern #slavery affecting vulnerable individuals trafficked from the #Czech Republic to work in a #McDonald’s branch and a factory supplying major UK #supermarkets. A #criminal gang exploited 16 victims over four years, forcing them to work in poor conditions while stealing their wages. Despite clear red flags, such as multiple wages being paid into a single bank account and extreme working hours, these indicators went undetected by authorities and companies involved. The BBC investigation highlights how systemic failures allowed the exploitation to continue, with significant missed opportunities to intervene.
Following the conviction of six members of the human trafficking network, McDonald’s UK and the #British Retail Consortium acknowledged the need for improved vigilance in safeguarding vulnerable workers.
The BBC investigation also underscores the inefficacy of the approach adopted in the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, which primarily relies on companies disclosing their internal measures against modern slavery annually, without any evaluation of the effectiveness of those measures or verification of their actual implementation. Although the Act started with a good concept, its reliance on self-regulation and the absence of proper monitoring has proven insufficient to prevent serious corporate misconduct. The failure to protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation within multinational corporations’ supply chains is evident. As highlighted by research conducted by our members, only regulatory intervention by the state and independent assessments of corporate entities' commercial and organizational practices can bring about meaningful change.
Source: William McLennan, Phil Shepka and Jon Ironmonger, "McDonald’s and supermarkets failed to spot slavery," BBC, September 30, 2024.
Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c2kdg84zj4wo
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