Employers beware! New anti-slavery laws came into force on 6 April under the Coroners and Justice Act 2009. The act creates an offence where a person is found guilty of holding another person in slavery or servitude, or requiring someone to perform compulsory labour. Conviction under the Act could result in a prison sentence of up to 14 years!!
The Act was brought into force to prevent the exploitation of vulnerable people such as migrants with little English however the government has confirmed that it is unlikely to affect employers who comply with current employment legislation. This is because "forced labour requires a level of coercion or deception beyond that of a normal employment agreement” meaning an employer would have to know that the arrangement was oppressive and not truly voluntary, or turn a blind eye to it, to be liable under the Act.
