Modern Slavery in Construction

Overview

South Branch has teamed up with Illustro Consultancy to give members an opportunity to learn about Modern Slavery within the construction industry.

Once an officially approved practice based on legal title and ethnic distinction, slavery in its contemporary forms has moved into the informal economy, based on both poverty and economic disempowerment.

With the cost of slaves at a historical low, revenues in human exploitation are at an all-time high! Despite substantial progress in many aspects of human development over the past 40 years, income distribution has become progressively worse, driving migration trends and increasing vulnerability to the enslavement process. Corruption, conflict and social unrest have also become significant predictors for the presence of slavery-type practices, coupled with migration, globalisation, urbanisation and political change.