Caxton, Cambridgeshire – Nine victims of modern slavery were discovered to have been coerced into working at a McDonald’s branch in Cambridgeshire, according to recent findings by the BBC. The victims, hailing from the Czech Republic, were part of a group of 16 individuals forced to work at either the fast-food restaurant or a factory that supplied bread products to major supermarkets like Asda, Co-op, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, and Waitrose. The exploitation of these victims persisted for over four years, during which well-established signs of slavery were overlooked, including the pooling of four men’s wages into a single bank account controlled by the perpetrators.
The family-run human trafficking network from the Czech Republic, consisting of six individuals, was eventually brought to justice in two criminal trials following delays caused by the Covid pandemic. Despite reporting restrictions, BBC England has now shed light on the full extent of the group’s crimes and the various missed opportunities that could have put an end to their illicit activities sooner.
Victims of the exploitation, many of whom were vulnerable individuals with experiences of homelessness or addiction, were paid at least the legal minimum wage but had the majority of their earnings stolen by the gang. Surviving on mere pounds a day while living in substandard accommodations, such as leaky sheds and unheated caravans, the victims unknowingly funded the gang’s lavish lifestyle filled with luxury cars, gold jewelry, and property investments.
Multiple red flags indicating forced labor were disregarded for years, allowing the exploitation to persist. Victims’ wages were funneled into bank accounts under different names, they were unable to communicate in English, and they endured grueling work hours at the McDonald’s branch and the bakery factory. The victims were essentially cut off from the outside world, monitored closely by the perpetrators through restrictive measures like CCTV surveillance and limited access to communication devices.
The failure to detect and address the exploitation sooner has raised concerns about the oversight and responsibility of businesses like McDonald’s and the supermarkets involved. While the gang has been convicted, questions remain about the accountability of the companies where the victims were forced to work. Retailers like Sainsbury’s, Asda, Tesco, Waitrose, and others have since taken steps to review their supply chains and strengthen their efforts to combat modern slavery within their operations.
Former Prime Minister Baroness Theresa May, who spearheaded the Modern Slavery Act in 2015, has acknowledged the shortcomings of the law in protecting victims in cases like this and emphasized the need for stronger measures to hold companies accountable for human rights abuses in their supply chains. As the government evaluates next steps in combating modern slavery, organizations are rallying to provide support for victims and push for greater transparency and accountability across all sectors.