{"id":3655,"date":"2025-04-22T13:28:53","date_gmt":"2025-04-22T13:28:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/infobric.com\/uk\/?p=3655"},"modified":"2025-11-04T12:57:16","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T12:57:16","slug":"reducing-modern-slavery-in-construction-with-identity-checks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/infobric.com\/uk\/en\/blogs\/reducing-modern-slavery-in-construction-with-identity-checks\/","title":{"rendered":"Tackling modern slavery in construction through simplified workforce identity checks"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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With cases of modern slavery in the UK construction sector on the rise, the need to tackle this serious crime - often undetected and driven by organised criminals - has never been more important.<\/h5><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>

Modern slavery and human trafficking figures reveal almost\u00a08,000 referrals<\/a>\u00a0were made for potential victims in the UK in 2022, an increase of 10% on the previous year. And 30% of all victim referrals were related to labour exploitation.<\/p>

The problem is a huge worry in the construction industry, one of the UK\u2019s largest economic sectors, employing an estimated 2.2 million workers in 2020. Strategies to identify potential victims have included using identity checks on building sites and ensuring staff are legally able to work in the UK.<\/p>

What is modern slavery in construction?<\/strong><\/h3>

Human traffickers and illegal or unlicensed gangmasters target many industries, including construction, using workers they exploit to perform jobs against their will.<\/p>

The National Crime Agency (NCA) reported 141 cases of potential exploitation in UK construction in 2022, based on reports made to the government\u2019s modern slavery helpline. That was an annual increase of 53%, involving a potential 543 victims.<\/p>

The NCA believes the dynamic nature of construction can mean workers join and leave projects throughout each life-cycle, making it challenging to identify the most vulnerable workers.\u00a0<\/p>

The threat of modern slavery can exist through the infiltration of large or national projects, involving infrastructure and industrial construction, or through small-scale and public-facing residential or casual construction projects.<\/p>

Conducting a construction right to work check<\/strong><\/h3>

All employers must check that a job applicant is allowed to work in the UK before they can start.<\/p>

Employing someone who does not have the right to work and failing to make the correct checks could lead to a potential civil penalty or fine of up to\u00a0\u00a360,000<\/a>\u00a0for each illegal worker.<\/p>

Construction firms can carry out a\u00a0right to work\u00a0<\/a>check by:<\/p>