The modern slavery system is harmful by design.
Barriers to referral are preventing survivors from getting the support they need and leaving them at risk of re-trafficking. Barriers including a limited number of Non-Statutory First Responder Organisations. Once in the NRM, the inability of survivors to work and poor provision of support is preventing recovery.
We’re calling for a survivor-centred approach to tackling human trafficking and modern slavery, with a focus on prevention, protection and recovery. That survivor-centred approach means self-determination for survivors: Barriers to referral are preventing survivors from getting the support they need and leaving them at risk of re-trafficking. This cannot be allowed to continue. No survivor should be turned away because a restricted number of organisations can help them access support and redress. Even once a person has accessed a referral, they face restrictions on their right to work and no guaranteed outcomes for their support and recovery.
First Responder Crisis
We urgently need more Non-Statutory First Responder Organisations to support the number of survivors coming forward.
In the UK, an individual who is suspected of having been trafficked or in modern slavery is referred to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) to be identified as a survivor and to access support for their recovery.
In January 2023, the UK Government was warned that the NRM was at breaking point with survivors struggling to find First Responder Organisations and facing long waiting times. Since then, levels of modern slavery and human trafficking have been increasing.
The number of survivors far exceeds the current capacity of First Responder Organisations. Despite this, years later, very little has changed: barriers to accessing the NRM are increasing, and survivors at risk of revictimisation.
We want to see training for more Non-Statutory First Responder Organisations (NSFROs) to meet the growing need for survivor referrals.
There are too few First Responders making impossible for some survivors to have their status recognised or access the subsequent statutory support.
The NRM cannot help clients who have faced abuse and exploitation that does not meet the high legal threshold of trafficking and modern slavery.
Why do we need more Non-Statutory First Responders?
Here at Kalayaan, we’re one of only nine Non-Statutory First Responder Organisations. That means we can refer a suspected survivor into the NRM. But the number of survivors in need of safeguarding far exceeds the help that’s available. We urgently need more NSFROs to be able to do this crucial work.
Many survivors of modern slavery and human trafficking are afraid of going to Statutory First Responders including the police. These organisations also have much higher rates of negative decisions because they do a referral too hastily or without enough detail.
When negative decisions from SFRO referrals are reconsidered, survivors get a positive decision rate of over 70%.
Since 2024, we have joined together with the Anti-Trafficking Monitoring Group to call on the Government to provide extra capacity and resources for NSFROs. Check out our joint recommendations: Non-statutory FR Joint Statement
Right to Work for Survivors
The NRM claims to offer support for survivors, but for far too many of Kalayaan’s clients it restricts their options and many face destitution and re-exploitation while in the NRM.
A domestic worker whose visa has expired by the time they enter the NRM does not have the right to work. Without access to work, they have to rely on minimal State support. This impacts their self-confidence, their ability to recover, and their capacity to support themselves and their families in their country of origin.
Because of this, some survivors feel they have no option but to risk re-exploitation over destitution. They take on irregular work where they are at risk of potential abuse, all while awaiting a decision in the NRM – system that should be protecting them.
50% of Kalayaan clients in the NRM do not have the right to work.
Survivors should have autonomy over their lives. That includes having the option to work. We understand that many survivors of trafficking and modern slavery experience trauma and need to access support but some are ready, and willing and want able to work.
“I need money to support my family. It’s useless if I don’t work. “ – Claire
The Government is Blocking Survivor Recovery
Survivors face additional barriers to recovery from a system that is rushing through decisions alongside incredibly restrictive temporary leave for survivors of trafficking or slavery.
While a survivor of human trafficking and modern slavery is in the NRM, the competent authority will gather evidence and make a final decision about an individual’s status. This decision is called a Conclusive Grounds decision.
However, to try and clear the backlog, these decisions are being rushed through without adequate consideration for the survivors’ situations which leaves survivors with no time to access support to recovery.
While the NRM offers leave for survivors who need continued access to support after their Conclusive Grounds decision (known as VTS leave), the leave is only granted in very limited circumstances and only for very specific reasons, and so the vast majority of survivors lose access to support despite a decision confirming their status as a victim of human trafficking and modern slavery.
Recovery looks different for everyone. We call on the Government to show more compassion for survivors, extend the recovery period, and provide them with the time and resources to heal.
Kalayaan supports our partner organisations’ campaigns calling for fundamental changes to the National Referral Mechanism to better support survivors. These include After Exploitation’s Hear Survivors, Support Survivors campaign.
To learn more about Kalayaan’s work to ensure survivors of human trafficking and modern slavery have a genuine path to recovery, please join our newsletter and follow us on social media.
Read our research on the NRM and right to work.