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Walsh, D, Pajon, L, Lawson, K, Hafeez, K, Heath, M and Court, N (2022) Increased Risks of Labor Exploitation in the UK following Brexit and the Covid-19 Pandemic: Perspectives of the Agri-food and Construction Sectors. Journal of Human Trafficking. pp. 1-16. ISSN 2332-2705
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Increased risks of labor exploitation in the UK following Brexit and the Covid-19 pandemic Perspectives of the agri-food and construction sectors.pdf - Accepted Version Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives. Download (379kB) | Preview |
Abstract
On leaving the EU, changes to the UK’s immigration system meant that low-skilled workers from overseas were largely prohibited from entering the UK. Since industries such as agri-food and construction have been dependent on low-skilled migrant labor, the present study examined whether there would be increased risks of labor exploitation. Interviews conducted with 43 senior industry representatives revealed problems already being experienced recruiting labor that were expected to worsen. Participants believed that labor exploitation would increase, especially further down the supply chain, compounded by the impact of Covid-19, which some participants stated had prompted neglect of due diligence. In searching for practicable solutions, participants saw the new immigration rules as opportunities to reexamine business practices to appeal more to British workers through, say, providing better pay. Such aspirations are thought unlikely, when considering the various factors that create downward cost pressures upon consumers. Similarly, industry responses in developing new technologies to overcome labor shortfalls seem still some years away from realization. These conditions, together, suggest that there is a continuing and pressing demand for cheap labor, particularly from overseas, which is only being partially addressed by the current seasonal visa schemes. Accordingly, risks of increased labor exploitation remain very real.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) J Political Science > JN Political institutions (Europe) > JN101 Great Britain K Law > K Law (General) |
| Divisions: | Justice Studies (from Sep 19) |
| Publisher: | Taylor & Francis |
| SWORD Depositor: | A Symplectic |
| Date Deposited: | 27 Jun 2022 09:57 |
| Last Modified: | 24 May 2023 00:50 |
| DOI or ID number: | 10.1080/23322705.2022.2079063 |
| URI: | https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/17157 |
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