Businesses play an important role in disrupting human trafficking and combating modern slavery. Here’s what to look out for, how to protect your business, and how to report it

Reader discretion advised

What’s human trafficking and modern slavery?

Across the world, criminal gangs are involved in the movement of people from one place to another with a view to exploiting them. This can be within a country, or between countries.  Human trafficking is the movement. Modern slavery is the exploitation.

There are many ways people can be exploited, including:

• forced labour
• sexual exploitation
• domestic servitude
• organ harvesting.

You can find more information on the Gangmasters & Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) website

As a business, you can play an important role in disrupting forced labour. That’s what we’ll focus on below.

What’s forced labour?

Forced labour is work or service that a person does under threat of a penalty and not voluntarily.

It generates around £175 billion per year in illegal profits, and there are an estimated 28 million people in forced labour worldwide.  The victims are men, women and children of all ages and backgrounds.

This includes many people in the UK. In April 2025, 97 people were safeguarded in relation to potential modern slavery after a crackdown on high street crime in England.

Why should you report it?

Modern slavery is illegal and a serious violation of human rights. Reporting can disrupt criminal gangs and help to save victims from desperate situations.

Under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, businesses have a legal obligation to report suspected cases.

Speaking up and reporting any suspicions can also help with your business’ reputation and stability.

Making customers and stakeholders aware of your anti-human trafficking and modern slavery stance could strengthen your image as an ethical business that can be trusted.

The impact of not speaking up

Your business could face reputational damage if modern slavery is found in your supply chain or staff. Proactively looking at your supply chain and staff and reporting anything suspicious could protect your business and its stability.

Spot the signs

Here are some things to look out for. A longer list is available on the GLAA website. 1 or more of these could suggest a person is a potential victim. So, if you spot any signs seek help for this person without delay.

Appearance

• Wearing the same clothes every day
• Not dressed properly for work, no warm clothing or protective equipment
• Injuries that haven’t been treated or the person can’t explain.

Working conditions

• Working long hours over a long period of time, or no time off
• No contract
• Lack of basic training or professional licences.

Finances

• Little or no pay for their work
• No access to their money or bank cards
• Wages paid into an account used by other people
• Forced to open bank accounts
• Forced to sign documents to get social security benefits, credit agreements or loans
• Been told they must pay back their debts for travel or housing.

Behaviour

• Unfamiliar with local language
• Follow instructions from someone else
• Allow others to speak for them
• Show fear or anxiety.

Top sectors for forced labour

People are typically forced to work in:

• farming
• food processing and packaging
• building
• nail bars
• takeaways
• cleaning
• car washing.

Agency workers and subcontractors

Forced labour can go unnoticed in agency placements and subcontracting chains. Be alert to:

• unusual recruitment or onboarding processes
• unclear pay details
• repeated use of the same address, contact numbers and bank accounts
• workers who don’t want to speak or don’t have documents.

How to protect your business

• Education

We've covered the basics of what you need to know. Here's where you can learn more and protect your business from being an unknown party to forced labour.

Stronger Together are a not-for-profit who tackle modern slavery in supply chains. They give support and training to businesses on responsible hiring. Their website has lots of resources you can use in your business. 

• Due diligence

It’s important to have controls in place to screen potential employees, third parties and contractors.

Good practice examples are to:

1. know your labour supply chain and only use reputable, licensed agencies
2. carry out regular site visits where subcontracted or agency staff work
3. check their protective equipment to make sure its suitable for use
4. conduct 1-1s in a safe and private setting and get to know their situation
5. check their payment and ID records for consistency
6. train managers and supervisors to spot these signs and how to report.

• Report

This one's simple, if you have suspicions you need to report them.

It’s important not to tip off or confront suspected traffickers. You should maintain the individual’s privacy and dignity.

How to report

You can contact:

• The Police on 101, or 999 if an emergency
• Crimestoppers (anonymous) on 0800 555 111
• The GLAA
  • Telephone numbers - 0800 432 0804 and 0115 959 7052
  • Email address - intelligence@gla.gov.uk
  • Their website
• Modern Slavery helpline
  • Telephone number – 0800 121 700
  • Their website

https://www.gla.gov.uk/media/6095/spot-the-signs-glaa-18082020.pdf

https://www.ilo.org/topics/forced-labour-modern-slavery-and-trafficking-persons/what-forced-labour

https://www.ilo.org/resource/news/annual-profits-forced-labour-amount-us-236-billion-ilo-report-finds

https://unric.org/en/modern-forms-of-slavery-28-million-people-into-forced-labour-and-138-million-children-working/

https://www.nationalcrimeagency.gov.uk/news/operation-machinize-hundreds-of-barbershops-targeted-in-nca-coordinated-crackdown

https://crimestoppers-uk.org/get-involved/campaigns/human-trafficking-and-modern-slavery