August 18th 2024.
For years, border officials have been warning young travelers about the dangers of modern slavery. It may seem like a distant concept, but it's a very real threat, especially for those seeking seasonal work abroad. One of the officials leading this effort is Kate Goldstone, a 31-year-old member of the British Border Force's National Safeguarding and Modern Slavery Team. You can often find her at one of the three Wetherspoons pubs in London's Gatwick Airport, all while on the clock.
In June, Kate was busy chatting with young adults over burgers and beers as they waited for flights to the Mediterranean where they were headed for seasonal work. But her presence at the pub was not just for socializing. She was there to talk about a serious issue: enslavement. She recalls a conversation with a young man who was only paid in Jagerbombs, a popular alcoholic drink. "That's not payment, that's a drink," she adds. "After three days, that gets tiring and that's when the guy realized he had signed himself up for something he didn't want. Luckily, he came back and has good memories of it, but not everyone does."
The same goes for countless other Britons who move to popular summer destinations like Ibiza, Spain's party island, for seasonal work. Many of them are unaware of their rights and the risks of falling into the hands of exploitative employers and human traffickers. That's why Kate and dozens of other Border Force agents took part in "Operation Karetu", visiting airports to speak to Brits about their labor rights and the dangers of modern slavery. "I think a lot of British people may not view themselves as modern slaves," Kate says, "but the reality of what has happened to you does. You shouldn't be ashamed or embarrassed by it – we're here to encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime to come forward and tell us so we can help you."
According to last year's annual Global Slavery Index, at least 50 million people around the world are trapped in modern forms of enslavement, with around 122,000 of those in the UK alone. While historically, slavery has been defined as people being held as legal property, modern forms can include human trafficking, forced labor, bondage from indebtedness, forced marriage, or sexual exploitation. "Modern slavery is the systemic removal of a person's freedom," explains Abigail Munroe, a senior analyst for the advocacy group Walk Free. "Essentially, it refers to situations of exploitation that a person cannot refuse or leave because of threats, violence, coercion, deception, or abuse of power."
Kate and her team specifically focused on those flying to popular holiday destinations like Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca, part of Spain's Balearic Islands, for seasonal work. This can range from restaurant busboys to camp counselors and lifeguards. In 2018, the Foreign Office found that of the Britons enslaved in Spain, about eight in 10 were in some form of shady PR job in the hospitality sector. "When we delved deeper, we found the stories had something in common – exploitation," Kate explains. Many of these workers were subjected to long hours and low wages, sometimes only earning two euros a night, which is not even enough to buy a loaf of bread in Ibiza.
Some workers also had their passports stolen, leaving them trapped and at the mercy of their employers. "A passport is your lifeline," Kate emphasizes. "We've heard stories of people saying that to get their passports back, they had to do things they didn't want to do. That's exploitation." This serves as a reminder for anyone considering working abroad to be cautious and informed.
Border Force has a few tips for anyone keen on leaving Britain behind, even if only for a short period of time, to work. First, it's important to know that working while on a tourist visa in the EU is illegal. If you are not an EU national or legally resident in the EU, you will need a job offer, work permit, and visa. It's crucial to have these documents in place before starting any job abroad. So, before packing your bags and heading off to work in a new country, be sure to do your research and make the necessary preparations.
For years, border officials have been issuing warnings to young travelers about the dangers of modern slavery. But if you happen to be looking for Kate Goldstone, you're likely to find her at the pub. At 31 years old, Kate is a member of the British Border Force's National Safeguarding and Modern Slavery Team. And while on the clock, she can often be found at one of the three Wetherspoons pubs in London's Gatwick Airport.
In June, Kate was busy chatting with young adults over burgers and beers as they waited for their flights to the Mediterranean, where they were headed for seasonal work. But her purpose was not to socialize - she was there to talk about one thing: enslavement. She recalls one particular young man who had been paid only in Jagerbombs - "That's not payment, that's a drink," she says. "After three days, that gets a bit tiring and that's when the guy realized he had signed himself up for something he didn't want. Luckily he came back and has quite good memories of it, but not everyone does."
Ibiza, Spain's notorious party island, is a popular destination for seasonal work among countless Britons. But Kate is just one of many Border Force agents who were part of "Operation Karetu", a mission to visit airports and speak to Brits about their labor rights and the risk of falling into the hands of exploitative employers and human traffickers. "I think a lot of British people may not view themselves as modern slaves," Kate explains, "but the reality of what has happened to you does. You shouldn't be ashamed or embarrassed by it - we're here to encourage anyone who has been a victim of crime to come forward and tell us so we can help you."
According to the annual Global Slavery Index, at least 50 million people around the world are trapped in modern versions of enslavement. Shockingly, around 122,000 of those are in situations of modern slavery in the UK alone. While historically, slavery has been defined as people being held as legal property, human rights campaigners explain that modern versions of slavery can include human trafficking, forced labor, bondage from indebtedness, forced marriage, or sexual exploitation. "Modern slavery is the systemic removal of a person's freedom, where one person is exploited by another, for personal or financial gain," says Abigail Munroe, a senior analyst for the advocacy group Walk Free.
Kate and her fellow agents specifically focused on travelers heading to popular holiday destinations like Ibiza, Majorca, and Menorca, all part of Spain's Balearic Islands, for seasonal work. This can include a range of jobs in the hospitality sector, from restaurant busboys to camp counselors and lifeguards. In 2018, the Foreign Office discovered that of the Britons enslaved in Spain, about eight in 10 were in some form of shady PR job in the hospitality sector. "When we delved deeper, we found the stories had something in common - exploitation," Kate reveals, noting that many reported working long hours for low wages, sometimes as little as two euros a night. In a place like Ibiza, that amount can't even buy a loaf of bread.
In addition to low wages, some workers also had their passports stolen, leaving them trapped with their employers. "A passport is your lifeline," Kate emphasizes. "And we've heard stories of people saying that to get their passports back, they had to do things they didn't want to do. That's exploitation." In light of these troubling realities, Border Force has a few tips for anyone considering working abroad, even if just for a short time. Firstly, it's important to note that working while a tourist in the EU is illegal. If you are not an EU national or legally resident in the EU, you will need a job offer, work permit, and visa. More information is available on traveling to the EU and Schengen area. Additionally, it's crucial to check that you have a valid visa and contract before starting any job. By taking these precautions, you can help protect yourself from falling into the hands of modern slavery.
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