Anti-Slavery Commissioner say construction workers still at risk of exploitation
![]() |
On 3 May 2022, the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) responded to the publication of the latest report from the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Operation Cardinas and Beyond: Addressing exploitation risk in the construction sector.
The report is an examination of the reality of modern slavery and labour exploitation in construction in the UK.
Construction has previously been identified as one of the most common sectors for labour exploitation in the UK and the new report flags up that even legitimate businesses can be caught up in criminality without oversight of and close co-operation throughout the supply chain.
The report also provides a useful analysis of one of the UK’s largest investigations into modern slavery, which focussed on an organised crime gang which infiltrated the supply chains of major construction projects across London and the southeast for nearly a decade.
In responding to the new report, Caroline Gumble, CEO of CIOB, said:
“There is absolutely no room for complacency when it comes to measures to avoid modern slavery in construction. Modern slavery has been an issue in our industry for too long now and, while our report on modern slavery in 2018 helped raise awareness, we cannot become complacent in our duty to improve business practices and eliminate labour exploitation. I want to echo Dame Sara Thornton’s comments that collaborative working is critical and that clients must provide support as a key part of the construction process to its supply chain.
"I urge all professionals in construction to read this report, understand the lessons there are to be learned in the "evolving best practice" section and take action. Given the skills shortage and the current trading environment and pressures on the industry, it is right that this remains a priority. Modern slavery should have no place in our industry or in our society.”
The new Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner’s report can be found here: https://www.antislaverycommissioner.co.uk/media/1802/iasc-construction-report_april-2022.pdf
CIOB’s resources, including the 2018 report, “Construction and the Modern Slavery Act: Tackling Exploitation in the UK”, can be found on CIOB’s website: https://www.ciob.org/industry/politics-government/campaigns/tackling-modern-slavery-construction
Article first appeared on the CIOB news website on May 3 entitled "Construction workers still at risk of exploitation, says new report from the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner -CIOB responds to the publication of the latest report from the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner.'
--CIOB
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Construction recruitment agency.
- Corporate social responsibility in construction.
- Equal opportunities policy.
- Equality Act.
- Ethical labour sourcing standard.
- Ethics and the engineer.
- Ethics in construction.
- Human resource management.
- Modern slavery.
- Modern slavery in the construction sector.
- Resource management.
Featured articles and news
This weeks guest editor, Ankita Dwivedi of Firstplanit.
Fropm practice to research and the business of materials.
Terms, histories, theories and practices.
Types of work to existing buildings - repurposing of buildings
Alteration and everything else before demolition.
2023 HSE data on workplace injuries and ill health
And CIOB's response.
Building Safety Act and Secondary Legislation
Presidential update from CIAT's Eddie Weir PCIAT.
Starting pistol Statement for an election campaign?
Rates freeze, NI cuts, full expensing; early election?
Positive pressure or positive input ventilation
Could this be a remedy for condensation, damp or mould?
Unlocking a Healthier Tomorrow
Report on Social housing retrofit in Scotland 2023
Call for ministerial group and National Retrofit Delivery Plan.
The Great Transformation 1860–1920. Book review.
2023 Autumn Statement in brief with reactions
Including the devolved governments, CIOB, ECA, APM and IHBC.
Irish Life Sciences HQ, an exemplar of adaptive reuse
AT awards small to medium size project category winner.
Formal and informal adaptive re-use or new use of buildings.
Broken Record. Emissions Gap Report 2023
Temperatures hit new highs, yet world fails to cut emissions (again).