What is modern slavery?

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Slavery – that’s something you learn about in history lessons, right? 

Tragically, slavery is not just a thing of the past. More people are trapped in slavery now than at any point in history. In 2016 it was estimated that 40.3 million people were enslaved worldwide according to the Global Slavery Index, of which 1 in 4 are children. 

Slavery is an umbrella term for activities involved when one person obtains or holds another person in compelled service. This includes being forced to work, controlled by an “employer”, treated or sold as a commodity, or physically constrained with restrictions on their freedom of movement. So this might be a woman forced into prostitution, a young boy working in a sweatshop, a man forced to work in agriculture, or a girl forced to marry an older man. 

This might seem like a problem we’re very removed from, but it isn’t just an issue in the developing world – in the UK it’s estimated that 136,000 people are currently enslaved. People are regularly trafficked into the UK from overseas, and there are also a significant number of British nationals in slavery. 

You may have come into contact with a slave without realising it in the past few days, as the majority of slaves work in the private sector. So the clothes you are wearing might have been produced by a slave, and the fruit on your desk may have been picked by a slave. Over the past weekend, the people who served you food, or washed your car, or cleaned your hotel room may have been slaves. Slavery is big business, generating huge profits every year, of which a third is in developed countries. 

So how can you tell if someone is trapped in modern slavery? Key things to look out for are whether a person has freedom of movement, if they have few personal belongings or identity documents, or if they show signs of abuse or seem scared to talk. 

If you have concerns about someone, contact the Modern Slavery Helpline directly on 08000 121 700.