LIB DEMS SUPPORT 'ANTI-TRAFFICKING' CLAUSE TO CORONERS & JUSTICE BILL
October 26, 2009 2:26 PM
The proposed anti-trafficking amendment to the Coroners and Justice Bill has the full support of the Liberal Democrats (as well as the Unite union and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority). The House of Lords is due to vote later on proposed new laws for England and Wales to deal with what campaigners are calling modern-day slavery.
Liberty and Anti-Slavery International say servitude and forced labour remain widespread, with some migrants being held against their will on low wages. They say prosecutions are difficult because of a lack of clear offences criminalising such practices. Campaigners have warned that the UK could be taken to the European Court of Human Rights because many cases are not being prosecuted. Ministers have insisted current laws give victims enough protection.
Campaigners say some migrant workers are being forced to accept low wages and long working hours because of intimidation and threats from their employers. They cite cases of domestic workers who have their passports taken and are not allowed to leave the homes of the families they work for. Many agricultural workers are also exploited, they say.
Campaign groups argue existing employment laws and legislation covering offences such as false imprisonment are inadequate. They hope to see two new offences created - one of holding someone in servitude, punishable by up to 14 years in prison, and a second offence of forced labour, punishable by a maximum of seven years in prison.
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