Leveraging labour market compliance: The case for a Single Enforcement Body

 

Rights Lab project lead: Alex Trautrims
Funder: CAPE
Duration: September 2022 - November 2022
Programme: Business and Economies

This project between the University of Nottingham Rights Lab and the UK’s Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner will examine the case for a single enforcement body (SEB) for employment rights in the UK in addressing labour market non-compliance and labour exploitation.  

The Modern Slavery Act was passed in 2015, requiring businesses with an annual turnover of £36 million or more to publish a statement on how they are tackling modern slavery risks across their operations and in their supply chains. However, since the passing of the Act no businesses have faced sanctions for breaching the legislation, creating a disincentive for businesses to resource activities to identify and respond to modern slavery in supply chain risks. Concern over labour abuses came to the fore in 2020 with allegations of unsafe and illegal working practices in the UK’s textile industry. 

In 2018 the government set out its intention to create a new SEB to ensure that vulnerable workers are aware of their rights and that businesses are supported to comply with labour market regulations. The government reiterated this commitment in 2021 following a consultation on establishing a SEB.  

Labour abuses exist on a spectrum from non-compliance through to modern slavery. This project will build the evidence base on the leveraging power of enforcement bodies and will test the hypothesis that a SEB could prevent non-compliance and labour exploitation, which are currently poorly addressed by the Modern Slavery Act. Project findings will inform policy developments on establishing a SEB and how this could coordinate enforcement activities, encourage businesses to comply with legislation and empower vulnerable workers to understand their rights.

Download our reports:

Briefing: Restating the case for a Single Enforcement Body

Labour Market Enforcement Strategy:Response to the Call to Inform the Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2020-21

Report on Labour Market Enforcement Strategy: Response to the Call to Inform the Labour Market Enforcement Strategy

Restating the case for a Single Enforcement Body