Babtac joins forces with charity to tackle modern slavery in nail salons

Industry association Babtac has joined forces with anti-slavery charity Unseen to tackle modern slavery in UK nail salons.

At the end of 2016 nail salons across the country were raided in a widely publicised crackdown operation on illegal workers and modern slavery practices in UK small businesses.

The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (Babtac) approached anti-slavery charity Unseen to launch an initiative called Let’s Nail It, in order to face the issue and attempt to eradicate modern slavery from the nail market. The campaign will run from October 16-23.

The idea is for Babtac’s nail salon members to take the matter into their own hands by talking to clients about the issue and asking them to donate £1 on top of their treatment to Unseen to help the charity support survivors of slavery and put a stop to it. Babtac also wants salons and techs to drive the message home about the importance of visiting reputable salons.

Salons that wish to participate can register at unseenuk.org/support-us/let-s-nail-it. Unseen will provide promotional support materials and information to pass on to clients about the issue and how the charity is working to tackle it.

Lesley Blair, vice chair of Babtac, commented: “We are aware that there are issues with modern slavery within our industry and it is something we have stood against for many years, advising and educating therapists and the general public to spot the signs.

“By working in partnership with Unseen, a leading charity for modern slavery, we are raising the profile of the issue with a different audience. We would like to encourage all of our members to support this campaign; we've kept it simple and easy to administer to capitalise on raising the awareness and profile of this topic for all concerned."