Well-known names within the industry have signed a protocol drawn up by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), the UK’s investigative agency for labour exploitation.
The document commits signatories to work in partnership to protect vulnerable and exploited workers, agree to the sharing of information to help stop or prevent exploitation and pledge to raise awareness of slavery through supply chains.
The UK’s construction sector reportedly contributes more than £100 billion to the economy and employs around three million people. It has also been identified by the GLAA as a high risk industry where modern slavery and labour exploitation occur.
BRE Group, Carillion and its subsidiary recruitment company Sky Blue, the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS) and the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) are among those who have agreed to sign the protocol.
Dr Shamir Ghumra, director for the Centre for Sustainable Products, BRE, and co-chair of the Modern Slavery in Construction Coalition, said: “We welcome the GLAA protocol which we hope will ultimately work towards the eradication in our industry of this most heinous of crimes.”
The protocol will be announced today (October 11) at the GLAA’s national conference at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham.
