"Welsh care home workers identified as potential victims of modern slavery", 7 Feb 2023

Five people suspected of recruiting and exploiting vulnerable Indian students to work in Welsh care homes have been made the subject of slavery and trafficking risk orders by a court.

The defendants are originally from the state of Kerala in India and have links to care homes in Abergele, Pwllheli, Llandudno, and Colwyn Bay, either by working there themselves or having a direct link to someone who works in them. Two of the defendants, a husband and wife, also supplied workers through a recruitment agency.

The five defendants were arrested following an investigation by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) which said tackling the exploitation of workers in care homes is one of its top priorities...

Speaking after the orders were granted, GLAA senior investigating officer Martin Plimmer said: "We are all aware that staffing levels have been a cause concern in the care sector for some time, and have not been helped by the Covid pandemic. Unfortunately, where labour shortages exist, there is an increased risk of opportunists using the situation for their own financial gain, usually at the expense of workers that they are exploiting..."