Focus On Labour Exploitation (FLEX)

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With the Employment Rights Bill going through Parliament right now, we have a singular opportunity to turn the tide on the rampant labour exploitation that migrant workers face in this country. Our latest video highlights the problems caused by restrictive visa systems, and the essential solutions. Check out the full video, and our briefings on the Employment Rights Bill, here: https://lnkd.in/gyYgxTVx

Paid opportunity: Are you or someone you know paid at or around the minimum wage? Do you feel like your work or income is insecure? We want to hear from you. We invite you to apply to be part of an advisory group that will help guide a research project about the reality of life as a worker in the UK. The group will have a 2-hour online discussion on 14th April 2025 from 6pm until 8pm. The aim of this discussion is to make sure we focus on the right issues in our research. Hearing from you and others with experience of working in the UK will help us make these decisions. You will receive £40 for your time (£20/hour). If you are interested in applying, please either fill in this short survey: https://lnkd.in/gUy7j3nE or email research@labourexploitation.org The advisory group is being organised by Focus on Labour Exploitation, and will help the overall research project which is being led by researchers at University College London. You can read more about the project here: https://lnkd.in/gtgvp82U

Today marks 10 years since the Modern Slavery Act, which centered on support for victims of trafficking. But trafficking must be stopped before it happens. With the Employment Rights Bill going through Parliament, there is now an opportunity to address the conditions which allow trafficking to thrive in the first place. Ahead of tomorrow's debate in Parliament, FLEX has written to policy-makers with a new briefing, urging action on preventing labour exploitation. Read the new briefing here: https://lnkd.in/g5MT76mj

This #InternationalWomensDay our focus has been on the women workers in the Seasonal Worker Scheme. On top of the problems all seasonal workers face, research we are currently conducting is highlighting that women also face structural issues leading to gender-based exploitation. From gendered placements at work to sexual harassment, we know that there are compounding harms placed on workers based on their gender. Unless steps are taken to change the restrictive nature of the Seasonal Worker Scheme, gendered exploitation on the scheme will persist. Want to be first to hear that this new research on gendered dynamics in the Seasonal Worker Scheme is out? Sign up to to the FLEX newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gDuPwbK4

As successive legislation races to the bottom, exploitation gains an ever stronger footing. Read what FLEX CEO Lucila Granada says about the new Border Security, Immigration and Asylum Bill here:

The threshold for acceptable government policy must include ensuring that all victims of exploitation are protected. And yet, in our urgent new briefing, we show that the new Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill upholds a system that facilitates exploitation. Read the briefing here: https://lnkd.in/g4-F5VYs

This protest presents the government with a choice: keep the seasonal worker visa crisis in the dark, or finally implement meaningful change. Focus On Labour Exploitation (FLEX) will be speaking at this seminar - see you there!

I changed my mind! Not big on public travel accounts, and certainly not proud of the air miles, but our trip to Immokalee with Focus On Labour Exploitation (FLEX) and Lucila Granada this past month meant a lot, so why not share!? Experiencing firsthand the power, creativity and resilience of a migrant farm worker community who have suceeded in establishing a programme that today successfully protects thousands of farm workers' basic rights was truly inspiring. The week in Florida with Coalition of Immokalee Workers (and the Fair Food Standards Council) has also promoted fresh ideas on how together we can support workers in a completely different setting to stand up for their rights - like here with us in Scottish fishing 🐟 ! Big thanks to our hosts and other friends & partners who contributed to this incredibly valuable week. Let's build on this in 2025 🙌 https://lnkd.in/e3nvUUFK

Thank you to Fair Food Program, Coalition of Immokalee Workers and Fair Food Standards Council for hosting us in Florida and sharing the experiences of your organisations and workers. From learning and building together, we will be better able tackle worker exploitation in fishing here. And a shout out to our colleagues from the Working People's Charter Network in India who were also visiting. Ham aapake projekt mein saphalata kee kaamana karate hain! Find out more about the Worker-Driven Social Responsibility programme we are building in North East Scotland: https://lnkd.in/gNwvtdmx