Cambridgeshire, England: A network of 16 modern slavery victims have been forced to work at a McDonald’s branch and a bakery supplying major UK supermarkets went undetected for years. The gang, convicted in two trials, forced vulnerable individuals from the Czech Republic into labour, with wages paid into accounts controlled by the traffickers.
Despite working long hours, victims earned just a few pounds a day, while the gang used the stolen wages to fund a lavish lifestyle. Companies, including McDonald’s and supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s, failed to identify red flags like shared bank accounts, excessive working hours, and suspicious job applications. The exploitation occurred between 2015 and 2019, and although the trafficking network has been dismantled, questions remain about how the warning signs went unnoticed.
The victims lived in deplorable conditions, with multiple individuals crammed into small homes. The gang confiscated their passports and used violence and intimidation to maintain control. Several victims attempted to escape, only to be trafficked back to the UK.
McDonald’s UK has since introduced measures to detect such abuses, and the British Retail Consortium said retailers are learning from the case to improve their due diligence.
Calls for stronger legislation, including reform of the Modern Slavery Act, are growing, with former Prime Minister Theresa May urging companies to take greater responsibility in monitoring their supply chains. The government has promised further action on modern slavery shortly.
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