Anti-Slavery Week (14th-19th October 2024)

Modern-Day Slavery in the Food System

This week is Anti-Slavery Week. Despite the term’s strong historical connotation, slavery is by no means a thing of the past. Today it’s estimated that there are almost 50 million victims of Modern-Day Slavery Worldwide.

Modern Day Slavery can simply be defined as denying one person their liberty in pursuit of personal or economic gain. This broad term encompasses a range of offences such as human trafficking, debt bondage and exploitation. Of the 50 million victims, approximately 27.6 million people are living in conditions of forced labour.

In the UK alone, an estimated 122,000 people are victims of this practice. The food industry is one of the most susceptible sectors, where hidden exploitation occurs at various stages of the supply chain.

Modern Day Slavery is a violent and intentional abuse of human rights which the vast majority of us would never intentionally engage with. Sadly, the prevalence of modern slavery means that for most food products, there is a significant likelihood that Modern Day Slavery has impacted their production at some point in the supply chain.

This is why tackling Modern Day Slavery is so important to us at United Fresh, we are abhorred by the horror of the abuse. But we are motivated by the opportunity we have to create positive change and work toward a more equitable food system.

Abuses across the supply chain

The risk factors for Modern-Day Slavery in the food industry vary by sub-sector but are particularly apparent in agriculture. Seasonal workers are among the most vulnerable when it comes to modern slavery. After Brexit, we saw the introduction of the Seasonal Worker Visa Scheme: a temporary solution to the subsequent labour shortages, which has increased the risks of exploitation. Factors such as geographic isolation, intense labour demands, and limited awareness of workers’ rights leave many susceptible to abusive practices.

Secondary sectors such as food manufacturing and distribution are also vulnerable to risks of modern slavery, workers are often hidden from view and so their exploitation goes unnoticed. In areas of food distribution, surges in demand during peak times like Christmas can add pressure to distribution teams who may employ temporary or agency workers. These shorter-term arrangements can leave workers without access to proper grievance mechanisms and limit the company’s oversight of labour issues.

Limited due diligence by companies further exacerbates these issues, as many fail to adequately vet their suppliers and the conditions under which workers operate.

Our Commitment

At United Fresh, we are dedicated to addressing the issue of Modern-Day Slavery in the food industry through the following commitments:

• Education and Awareness: We take a continuous learning approach. Educating ourselves about the complexities of Modern-Day Slavery, the vulnerabilities within our supply chains and how we can help. We run regular awareness workshops and training sessions within the team frequently and share resources. Through our approach, we hope to encourage a culture of awareness and vigilance within our team and partners.
• Ethics, Due Diligence and Purchasing Practices: We are committed to maintaining ethical practices in all our operations. This includes conducting thorough due diligence on our suppliers to ensure that all workers are treated fairly and with respect.
• Advocating for Fair Work and Human Rights: We support the rights of all workers, whether in agriculture, manufacturing, or distribution. By advocating for fair wages and safe working conditions, we aim to protect those who are often invisible in our supply chains.
• Supply Chain Transparency: We leverage our close working relationships with supply partners and are onboarding tools like SEDEX to enhance transparency within our supply chains. This allows us to identify and address potential risks associated with Modern Day Slavery effectively.

At United Fresh, we recognise our role in the collective effort to tackle Modern Day Slavery. We hope that by educating ourselves, upholding high standards and ensuring transparency we can help to create a more just and equitable food system.

If you’d like to learn more about our practices or where to find more useful information, reach out to us today.

Email us: [email protected]