Two recruitment agency workers based in the UK allowed the exploitation of workers who were being controlled by a gangmaster.

According to the BBC, there were 41 "extremely vulnerable" Romanians found after raids in Liverpool in March 2018. The raids were organised to tackle suspected labour exploitation.

The two workers, Josh Beesley and Christopher Beech, had placed the workers in jobs at a meat plant. Both worked for recruitment firm Contact Recruitment.

According to the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority, Beesley was handed a 20-month prison sentence after appearing at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this week and a further eight months to run concurrently for the gangmaster offences. Beech was handed an eight-month sentence, suspended for 18 months.

GLAA Senior Investigating Officer Martin Plimmer said, “The victims had their wages controlled, they were being directed where to live, and had no control over their lives. At one stage, they were even given false identities so that they could work two separate shifts. Fortunately, one of the victims was brave enough to come forward and he was supported by two other victims.”

The workers were housed in multiple-occupancy properties, often with four workers per room, and were transported from there to the factory with no access to bank accounts opened in their names.

SIA reached out to the REC which commented, “Modern slavery is abhorrent and something the REC and our members take extremely seriously. REC members sign up to a code that commits them to high standards of professional practice which go beyond their legal requirements. We are in discussion with Contact Industrial Recruitment to better understand what lessons can be learned from this incident.”

“Strong enforcement and co-operation between employment businesses and industry regulators is essential to prevent the exploitation of workers,” the REC stated. “Contact Industrial Recruitment have supported the authorities throughout their investigation. The GLAA and the Courts have concluded that the perpetrators acted alone. Our code allows us to expel members found to be in breach of our standards.”

SIA also reached out to Contact Recruitment but the company has not yet provided a comment.