Responding to news that the UK today becomes the third country to ratify the International Labour Organisation’s Protocol on Forced Labour, Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX) recognised this important step forward in the fight against labour exploitation.  However, in order to meet such high aims, FLEX called for greater resources to be invested in labour inspection to prevent forced labour in the UK. The UK Immigration Bill, currently being debated in the Houses of Parliament, proposes a much broader role for UK labour inspection agencies. However, the Government has so far failed to respond to demands for extra resources to match the proposed increases to inspection activity. Claire Falconer, Legal Director at FLEX commented: “In ratifying this important treaty, the UK Government has committed to preventing labour exploitation and protecting exploited workers, including by strengthening labour inspection. She added We hope that the resources to achieve the excellent aims of this treaty will now be committed to ensure that key UK labour inspection agencies are able to play their full part in the fight against forced labour ”