To mark the International Day for the Abolition of Slavery on 2 December, the charity Migrant Help launched a provocative campaign to raise awareness of modern slavery at the UK Careers Fair.
The organisation, disguised as a fake recruiting agency called ‘LockedIn Recruitment,’ advertised job opportunities that mimicked the real-life experience of modern slavery survivors.
The goal of the campaign was to expose traffickers’ tactics to exploit vulnerable people and to highlight the alarming prevalence in the UK of modern slavery. Recent statistics show that reported cases have increased by 33 percent annually, and there are currently 122,000 people trapped in exploitative situations across the UK.
LockedIn: A dark satire on exploitation
LockedIn Recruitment created roles that reflected the harsh realities of survivors of modern slavery. These positions included a nanny who was denied breaks, an employee forced to work a 21-hour day, and a server subjected physical punishment. Each role was based on real-life survivor accounts collected by migrant help. This shows how modern slavery is prevalent across multiple industries.
Modern slavery is when people are deprived of their freedom and exploited to make money. The exploitation may take on many different forms, including domestic servitude, forced labour, criminal exploitation and sexual exploitation. Statistics show that for every person saved, seven others are still in captivity.
Loretta, who was inspired to create the role of a live-in nanny by her own experience with modern slavery, stated, “After I graduated from nursing school in Nigeria and worked in a hospital, I received an offer to work for a family at their home, caring for their children. When they moved to the UK, i went with them. My situation began to rapidly worsen. My family took away my passport, wouldn’t let me go outside and refused to pay for my work.
“I am so grateful that I was able to get out. I work as a nurse in the NHS and also as a trustee for Migrant Aid, hoping I can help others who are going through the same situation as I did. Not everyone is as lucky. “The Unfair Jobs Fair brings to light something that so many people are unaware of – modern slavery occurs all around us and often in plain view.”
The Reach of Modern Slavery in the Workplace
Industries such as hospitality, agriculture and construction have a higher risk of exploitation, whether it is done directly or by subcontracted workers. Modern slavery is characterized by a lack of freedom of movement and excessive work hours without breaks. The victim may be too afraid to ask for help and display signs of abuse.
Rabiya Ravat is the Director of Modern Slavery Services for Migrant Help. She commented: “Modern Slavery is not only a problem abroad – it happens here in Britain, in our cities and towns, and to many British citizens as well.
Through the Unfair Jobs Fair we want to expose people to the fact that modern slavery is hidden in everyday places and can often be disguised as legitimate employment opportunities. We captured the emotional and shock reactions of people who were confronted with this issue.
“We must educate people on the signs and symptoms of modern slavery, as well as how to get help. Victims often feel alone, afraid, and unaware of the rights they have. Migrant help provides survivors with support, guidance and a safe place to rebuild their life. The Unfair Jobs Fair forms part of our mission to increase awareness, engage with the public and, ultimately, end modern slavery.
Call the Modern Slavery & Exploitation Helpline, a 24/7 confidential service that is available to anyone who believes someone might be trapped in slavery.
Image courtesy of Jeff Spicer/PAMedia Assignments.
