FLEX (Focus on Labour Exploitation) published its Working Paper "If I could Change Anything About My Work..." in January 2021. The paper is based on participatory research carried out with workers in the UK cleaning sector and highlights key workplace issues, as well as the risk and resilience factors that impact cleaners' vulnerability to labour exploitation and abuse.

The paper identifies structural and systematic issues that leave cleaners vulnerable to labour exploitation including outsourcing, poor labour market enforcement, precarious employment arrangements, language barriers, and low levels of unionisation.

Key findings include:

• 61% of research participants experienced issues with pay such as not being paid for all hours worked, not being paid at all, not being paid on time, or being paid below the minimum wage.
• 21% of research participants felt unable to take time off when ill.
• 60% of research participants experienced dangerous working conditions.
• Sexual harassment was a frequent issue, exacerbated by low pay, insecure working arrangements, and unequal power dynamics.

The full report and media coverage are linked below.