A New Construction Movement Needed to Fight Modern Slavery

In preparation for the launch of Construct.id, co-founder Martin Ward is discussing the issues of modern slavery in construction and how the industry can, and needs to, improve.

The construction industry is responsible for approximately seven per cent of the global workforce, and according to a report from the Chartered Institute of Building, in 2018 just under 7000 people in the UK were identified as victims of modern slavery. This is a huge 300% increase since 2013.?

Typically, modern slavery can be split into four areas; human trafficking, forced labour, bonded labour and slavery of children. In construction, forced labour, which is where workers are made to work against their will and bonded labour - where people are forced to work to pay off debts after borrowing money - are the most widespread issues.?

Martin discusses how an industry that has been so successful in transforming standards in areas such as health and safety, has seen such an increase in modern slavery victims, and highlights how, together we need to transform standards in this crucial area.?

Author: Martin Ward

Many moons ago, I had the pleasure [in most parts] of working for a construction firm alongside my then future father-in-law. I was in the design team and he was a bricky. He often regales his ‘golden years’ of zero health and safety, a time when work was so abundant they would jack in one site for another just to be nearer a bacon sarnie shop.

Forty years later, thankfully the industry has changed – safety legislation has been transformed and standards are now at the forefront of UK contracting commitments.??

As we prepare to launch Construct.id in January, our primary sources of industry engagement has been focused on how we can best support the supply chain that are so integral to the industry.?However, whilst re-engaging with old colleagues and meeting new industry connections, it seems that not everything has evolved to the same degree.

Evolving for the better?

On the face of it, supply chains seem very simple - all UK large contractors have transparent and structured supply chains. Most of which are engaged in building and developing progressive relationships through raising site standards, planning workload continuity, improved payment terms etc.

But scratch a little deeper and the complex nature of our industry subcontracting makes tier 3, 4 and even 5 levels of subcontracting almost untraceable. Throw into the mix high levels of agency labour, temporary works and an industry-wide margin challenge and you get a level of complexity that is virtually impossible to unravel.??

The consistent feedback that I’ve found shocking is not simply the lack of transparency – it was the culture.?No longer residing in the memories of my farther-in-law but alive and kicking in the 21st century – the culture of key trades simply leaving one job for another. Not for the bacon sarnie shop this time but if offered more preferable rates and even more worrying, if the adoption of new working standards are imposed or upheld.

It is these essential trades which are labour-intensive and often with a lower entry skill level that is at the largest risk of exploitation. A transient workforce with limited visibility and accountability, little representation and often under pressure to cut margins could find themselves vulnerable to unscrupulous gang-masters.

Where does change begin?

Modern slavery is not unique to construction but like all industries, it is a blight and a reality.

According to anti-slavery charity Unseen, calls to their exploitation helpline in 2021 showed that 20% of calls they received were construction related.

Modern slavery extends far beyond being made to work against your will. It also includes forced excessive working hours in unsafe conditions, the banning of unions, unclear and unfair pay deductions, intimidation and bullying, and the provision of inappropriate and squalid accommodation - the list goes on.

How can UK construction ever identify and stop these practices from taking place if we can’t gain total visibility of our supply chain? Collectively, how do we bring about systematic change and our verify workers, without the fear of losing essential workforce??

Where does Construct.id fit in?

I am not going to state that Construct.id will be the answer to the problem, as far cleverer people than I have wrestled with the challenge of modern slavery for years. ?

However, we have created a universal platform for the industry - a single worker profile ensuring workers turn up onsite with pre-verified data. This brings about positive change in three main ways:

Verified identity – trusted proof someone is who they say they are

Right-to-work check – digital confirmation of status via the government database

Digital credentials – verified credentials and qualifications issued direct from source

If adopted broadly past typical industry silos, it will not only improve onboarding standards, reduce data reproduction [real GDPR compliance we talk so much about] but provide a source of trusted data, reducing the opportunity for forced labour and helping bring visibility to those complex supply chains.

To achieve this goal, we need to make a bold collective change and have the confidence to change, the confidence to adopt new standards without the fear of losing trade to competitors.

A change where ‘better for my project’ is replaced by ‘better for the industry and better for all’.?

A single set of verified data not only just makes sense but means we can support such organisations as Unseen and Stronger Together.?Everyday these organisations work to educate and bring about positive change, by combining verified worker identity and credentials on an industry-wide basis, we are one step closer to eradicating modern slavery in construction.

How can you help?

If you’re a contractor, an organisation within the supply-chain, a trade association, training provider or a skilled construction worker, speak to us, visit our website and work with us to bring about positive change.

Contact us:

Martin Ward

Dominic Howkins