Covid-19: Human Trafficking Debate

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Department: Home Office

Covid-19: Human Trafficking

Baroness Burt of Solihull Excerpts
Thursday 16th July 2020

(4 years, 4 months ago)

Lords Chamber
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Baroness Burt of Solihull Portrait Baroness Burt of Solihull (LD) [V]
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The Walk Free Foundation, a human rights group, found that 75% of hospitality businesses were flouting anti-slavery legislation. As we emerge from lockdown, debt bondage will have increased and traffickers could capitalise as pressure on the hospitality industry to survive grows. Will the Government increase the number of workplace inspections and ensure that inspectors are highly trained to identify victims of trafficking?

Baroness Williams of Trafford Portrait Baroness Williams of Trafford
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The noble Baroness makes a very good point. However, as I said earlier, modern slavery can be a hidden crime, so it is incumbent upon all agencies in their work to try and identify the signs of modern slavery and tackle it. The noble Baroness makes a very good point about the hospitality industry.