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Abstract

In 2016, 40 million people worldwide were victims of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT), with 25 million people in forced labour (ILO, 2017). The International Labour Organisation (ILO) ranks agriculture (which includes forestry and fishing) as the sector with the fourth largest proportion of victims of forced labour across the world (ILO, 2017). Labour exploitation, including forced labour, has been the most frequently reported form of exploitation reported via the National Referral Mechanism since 2016 (Burcu, Gardner & Gray, 2021). In addition to those enslaved in primary agriculture, there is increasing evidence and concern as to the numbers of enslaved working in the agri-food processing sector which, due to global economic pressures, is highly dependent on a flexible workforce. This research will examine self-reported practices within the UK agri-food sector and explore the effectiveness of the actions organisations are taking to eliminate MS from their supply chains.

Description

Underlying rationale.

In 2016, 40 million people worldwide were victims of Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking (MSHT), with 25 million people in forced labour (ILO, 2017). The International Labour Organisation (ILO) ranks agriculture (which includes forestry and fishing) as the sector with the fourth largest proportion of victims of forced labour across the world (ILO, 2017). Labour exploitation, including forced labour, has been the most frequently reported form of exploitation reported via the National Referral Mechanism since 2016 (Burcu, Gardner & Gray, 2021). In addition to those enslaved in primary agriculture, there is increasing evidence and concern as to the numbers of enslaved working in the agri-food processing sector which, due to global economic pressures, is highly dependent on a flexible workforce.

The agri-food sector has historically been more at risk of labour exploitation, including MS, than most other sectors as a result of the long supply chain involved small-scale producers (Metcalf, 2019). A substantial number of companies working within the agri-food supply chain do not meet the s.54(1) criteria for MS reporting (Alliance 8.7, 2017), and so this raises questions around critical gaps in the structure of the legislation when applied to sectors such as the agri-food supply chain that very much relies on short-term, highly mobile, seasonal labour. The fact that so many small food suppliers and processors increasingly make up the food production landscape allows MSHT to become a known unknown within the long and complex, often multinational, food supply chain.

 

Specific objectives of the project/activity.

This research will examine self-reported practices within the UK agri-food sector and explore the effectiveness of the actions organisations are taking to eliminate MS from their supply chains. The project will extend the work of Schaper & Pollach (2021) who undertook a similar review within the textile industry, and the mining and metals industry and studies by Monciardini et al. (2021) of 10 largest food and tobacco companies active in the UK.

The project will enable a comprehensive understanding of the management of MSHT across multi-tier agri-food supply chains from large multi-national retailers (e.g. TESCO) to much smaller independent producers and processors who are not mandated to produce and publish a MS Statement (e.g. Greenyard Fresh). It will also consider company responses in the agri-food sector where allegations of misconduct related to Modern Slavery since 2005.