UKWA Speaks Out on Modern Slavery in Warehousing, warning of ‘Employers Targeted by Criminal Gangs’

Modern slavery continues to cast a long shadow over the warehousing sector, an industry particularly vulnerable to exploitation by organised criminal networks.

“This vulnerability stems from the nature of our sector,” explains Clare Bottle, Chief Executive of the UK Warehousing Association (UKWA). “Seasonal demand means businesses often rely on agency labour, whilst entry-level roles do not typically require fluent spoken English and often demand no formal qualifications. At the same time, warehouse work is relatively well paid, making the sector an attractive target for exploitation.”

To help tackle this issue, UKWA has issued Modern Slavery Guidelines and developed an exclusive Modern Slavery Policy for its members. The Association works closely with Stronger Together, a not-for-profit delivering training, resources and collaborative programmes aimed at combatting labour exploitation.

Speaking at Stronger Together’s recent Thematic Session on Effective Human Rights Due Diligence of Goods and Services Not For Resale, Clare Bottle emphasised that modern slavery doesn’t just harm individuals, but also poses a serious threat to responsible employers.

“Human traffickers can infiltrate legitimate businesses, undermining trust, damaging operations and ultimately causing harm to all involved,” she said. “Criminals who manipulate the system can deceive even diligent warehouse operators, slipping through the cracks where safeguards are missing or weak.”

From March 2025, changes to Section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 will place even greater responsibility on the largest businesses to carry out due diligence and demonstrate transparency in their supply chains. And this is good practice for small companies too.

“We want to support our members in safeguarding their businesses and their people from this appalling crime,” Clare added, pointing out that the consequences of failing to act can be severe, from substantial financial penalties to lasting reputational damage.

UKWA is urging its members to adopt the Modern Slavery Policy and make full use of the free training and resources available from expert organisations like Stronger Together. Clare concludes, “By taking proactive steps – from robust recruitment checks to ongoing workforce monitoring – we can all play a part in protecting the dignity and safety of workers, while shielding legitimate businesses from harm”.