November 13, 2024

Ready, Willing and Able: Latest report sets out economic benefits to letting survivors in the NRM have access to work

Kalayaan has published the second of five ‘mini reports’ on the right to work in the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). The series of reports highlights the benefits to be gained by the UK and survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery if every adult in the NRM was granted the right to work.

“Report 2: The Economic Benefits” demonstrates how granting survivors of trafficking the right to work in the NRM makes sense economically and how it can ease labour shortages in the UK.

Crucially, it shows that the UK is losing out on £36 million in revenue per year from income tax and National Insurance contributions by not allowing thousands of ready, willing and able workers in the NRM to make an honest living while they await a Conclusive Grounds decision.

Kalayaan’s Sophie Levack drafted this series of reports with Caroline Lewis of Saltworks Law. They have addressed this series of reports to MPs and urge the Government to make a small change in policy to allow this work force to contribute to the UK economy and use work to help them recover from their previous exploitation.