“Modern slavery gangmasters exploit care worker shortage”

The number of modern slavery cases reported within the UK care industry has more than doubled in the past year.

There were 109 potential victims, exploited for personal or financial gain, between January and March - twice as many as the same period in 2022…

The Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) - whose role is to protect workers from labour exploitation across the UK - told us there were 17 ongoing care sector investigations and that it was looking at more than 300 pieces of intelligence…

…Recruited by an agency in her home country in Africa, Terri was offered work in the UK as a domiciliary carer…

…She was told she would earn up to £29,000…

Terri told us she found her work hours gruelling - up to 20 hours a day - and that she often worked seven days a week…

When Terri eventually received her wages from the company two months later, it worked out at less than £2 an hour, which is illegal…

Terri complained to the care company but it threatened to stop her work and cancel her visa…