Rebecca Evans AM, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, has raised concerns in the Senedd that the UK Government’s Modern Slavery Bill may prove to be a missed opportunity.
During questions to Wales’ Minister for Local Government, Lesley Griffiths AM, Mrs Evans spoke of her “concern that the UK Government’s Modern Slavery Bill, with its narrow focus on prosecution, may prove to be a missed opportunity because it excludes preventative measures.”
Mrs Evans was reflecting widespread anxieties that the urgency to pass the UK Home Secretary’s draft bill ahead of the 2015 election could mean that a key opportunity for an effective response to modern slavery is missed.
Modern slavery takes many forms and affects adults and children. In the UK, adults and children from the UK and abroad are enslaved in the sex industry, in forced labour and criminality, and behind closed doors as domestic servants.
Mrs Evans said: “I share the desire to strengthen the legal framework to tackle modern day slavery. However, as it stands, the Bill falls short.”
Mrs Evans highlighted advice from a Council of Europe group of trafficking experts, who suggested that the scope of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) could be further extended to other sectors such as hospitality, care and construction in order to prevent slavery.
Mrs Evans said: “At the moment, the Gangmasters Licensing Authority can only operate in the areas of food production, agriculture and fisheries. Exploitative gangmasters are free to operate in other sectors such as care, hospitality and construction because the GLA is unable to act.”
Responding to Mrs Evans’ concerns, the Minister said: “What is really important is that my officials work very closely with the Home Office to make any concerns that we feel are there well known to them. You will be aware that there is an interdepartmental ministerial group—I did attend one in October, and when I cannot go, the anti-slavery co-ordinator goes. I am going to the next one, which the Home Secretary is chairing, so if there are any concerns around that area, we can bring them forward.”
Mrs Evans added: “This Bill has the potential to be both ground breaking and life changing, but it must start with prevention because this is the vital first step in designing an effective anti-trafficking response.”
