Government recommends licences for nail salons to tackle modern slavery

The UK Government has recommended the implementation of pilot licensing scheme for nail salons and indicated that it could happen within a year.

Following multiple alleged incidents of labour exploitation and human trafficking in relation to non-standard businesses; nail salons were identified as one of the eight sectors where workers are at major risk of exploitation in the UK in the Labour Market Enforcement Strategy 2018/19.

Director of labour market enforcement David Metcalf stated his recommendation in the report for “licensing pilots for nail bars and car washes on a limited geographical basis in the coming year.”

The pilot scheme could follow models of those already enforced by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in the food processing and agriculture sectors, where labour providers are licensed.

The report also said Metcalf “shall look forward in 2018 to meeting stakeholders keen on extending licensing in particular sectors to provide stronger evidence of its potential benefits and practicalities of implementation.”

A public consultation will be launched later this year to help the Government decide on next steps. Metcalf said the precise areas of focus are yet to be finalised, though he is keen to explore sector-specific enforcement issues in greater depth.

He continued: “I believe that urgent action is needed to address problems and gaps in labour market enforcement. Some will inevitably require legislation – and hence will take longer to implement – but others ought to be simpler to take forward.

“I therefore intend to be proactive in working with the relevant Government departments and the three enforcement bodies in an effort to take these forward, such that I can report on progress by the time of my next strategy in 2019.”