Building Awareness: Tackling Modern Slavery on Site

As part of our commitment to ethical labour practices, the directors at CarmichaelUK recently visited one of our client’s major project sites to deliver an important briefing on the risks of modern slavery in construction. We know that exploitation can sometimes go unnoticed in large, fast-moving environments like construction sites, so we wanted to make sure our workers are informed, empowered, and supported.

During our visit, we gathered the team for a dedicated session where we talked openly about what modern slavery can look like—forced labour, debt bondage, and human trafficking aren’t always obvious at first glance. We shared real-world examples and helped them understand the subtle warning signs: things like workers being controlled by someone else, having their wages or ID held, or appearing fearful and withdrawn.

Most importantly, we made sure everyone knew how to report any concerns, whether through their site manager, directly to us at the agency, or via independent hotlines. We reassured them that raising a concern is always the right thing to do and that their voices will be heard and respected.

This isn’t a one-off initiative. It’s part of a wider effort to create a culture of safety, trust, and transparency across every site we work on. As a labour provider, we believe we have a responsibility to not just fill roles—but to protect people. By having these conversations directly on-site, we’re helping our teams look out for each other and stand up against exploitation in all its forms.