The Politics Of Hand Car Washes In The UK

Where is the better life they were promised?

Lisa Fouweather

5 min read

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1 hour ago

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In every community in the UK, people are being exploited for cheap labour as part of modern-day slavery. The hand car wash sector is especially affected by this, as research by the Modern Slavery Helpline highlights.

27% of cases recorded to the helpline about labour exploitation concerned car wash workers.

Despite this, in 2019, the government rejected a call for a trial licensing scheme to try to tackle the issue. If approved, this would’ve ensured that all carwashes were complying with employment, tax, health, safety, and environmental laws. Because it wasn’t approved, however, the exploitation continues.

How is it allowed to continue?!

The chair of The Car Wash Association (CWA), Brian Madderson, expressed his disappointment with the outcome of the calls for a trial licensing scheme in an interview with BBC News.

We are being given words of reassurance, but what we need is firm action against the modern slave owners who evade taxes and exploit vulnerable workers.

And that they do…