Thread by @I_am_the_Story

🔆UK: 50 Indian students suspected to be victims of modern slavery in North Wales
#Thread
msn.com/en-in/news/oth…

1. Investigators from Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) in its probe identified "more than 50 Indian students as being potential victims of modern slavery and labour abuse over the last 14 months" while working at care homes in North Wales.
#UK #WALES #INDIA #STUDENT

2. The investigative agency got a court order against five people of Indian origin who abused these 50 students. GLAA was granted a Slavery and Trafficking Risk Order (STRO) indefinitely against the defendants at Mold Magistrates' Court last week.
#UK #WALES #INDIA #STUDENT

3. The five accused, between age groups 25 to 47, were identified and they are: Mathew Issac and Jinu Cherian from Abergele, Eldhose Cherian, Eldhose Kuriachan and Jacob Liju from Pwllheli, a statement released by the AGLAA said. All belong to state of Kerala.
#UK #WALES #INDIA

4. GLAA said Issac and his wife Jinu Cherian also supplied workers through Alexa Care Solutions, a recruitment agency registered in May 2021.
#UK #WALES #INDIA

5. Reports to the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline three months later claimed that Indian workers employed by Alexa Care were not being paid correctly or were having their wages withheld.
#UK #WALES #INDIA

6. The STRO orders all five to inform the GLAA of any change of name or address within seven days, and allow GLAA access, at any reasonable time, to where they are living to establish and confirm that the STRO is being complied with.

6(b) Breaching the order is a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

7. In the UK, the number of people identified as victims of modern slavery has been rising year on year, with over 12,000 people referred to the authorities in 2021, according to rights body Anti-Slavery International.

8. The real number of people trapped in slavery is estimated to be much higher -- more than 130,000 people -- and is estimated to cost the UK 33 billion pounds per year, according to rights body Anti-Slavery International.