A recent report published by King’s Business School highlights a critical issue within the UK’s housebuilding sector: the inadequate understanding and documentation of modern slavery risks. Despite the industry’s significant economic contribution and the political drive to increase housing supply, the risks of forced labor and labor exploitation are being largely overlooked. And that lack of awareness may be paving the way for exploitation. 

Serious gaps in understanding 

Around 40% of UK construction output is homebuilding. But, out of the 67 existing research documents on labor exploitation reviewed by researchers, only 12 addressed housebuilding explicitly in any way. The report was commissioned by the Director of Labor Market Enforcement and the Modern Slavery and Human Rights Policy and Evidence Centre (PEC). Senior Lecturer in International Management at King’s Business, School Dr Gabriela Gutierrez-Huerter O was one of the researchers. Dr Gutierrez-Huerter O said the report points to “serious gaps” in understanding modern slavery in housebuilding. 

Dr Gutierrez-Huerter O stated: 

 “We found that while exploitation is widely acknowledged as a risk in construction, housebuilding has been under-researched. That blind spot limits the ability of government and industry to identify or prevent harm.” 

Poorly understood, under-researched and largely undocumented, is how the report describes awareness of modern slavery in the sector currently. Particularly concerning given the UK government’s ongoing push to expand the supply of new homes being built. More homes mean more workers, and more workers may mean more exploitation if nothing changes.

Tell me more