Posted on 17th July 2020 in News, Connect
A new app designed to help tackle labour exploitation and modern slavery in the farming, horticulture and food production sectors has been launched by the Church of England’s modern slavery initiative.
The Farm Work Welfare App, developed by The Clewer Initiative, will provide information on employment rights in eight languages and is aimed at the thousands of workers who come every year to help with the harvest of fruit and vegetables on UK farms.
In a sector which often uses recruitment agencies or third-party labour providers, the app will also give guidance to farmers and growers on how to prevent labour exploitation. Farmers will be able to access practical information on licensed labour providers, document verification and the rights of workers.
The app will allow both farmers and workers to flag up concerns about labour exploitation or modern slavery and seek help, with the information processed by the Modern Slavery Helpline.
Bath and Wells Mission Team Leader, David Maggs says, ““Clewer have developed this app in response rising concerns about the potential use of exploited labour in food production and processing. Locally our Hidden Voices Somerset groups plan to work with our partners to publicise the app and encourage its use by employers and workers.”
It has been drawn up in partnership with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), the National Crime Agency, the National Farmers’ Union (NFU), the Church Commissioners for England and fresh produce supplier the Fresca Group as well as the Modern Slavery Helpline.
The app can be downloaded from Google Play