CWA EXPRESSES DISAPOINTMENT WITH FAILURE TO ACT OVER MODERN SLAVERY

Gordon Balmer, Executive Director of the Car Wash Association, said:

“It is astonishing that non-compliant hand car washes remain unregulated and operating illegally in plain sight in 2023.

Rogue hand car washes have been identified as breeding grounds for modern slavery and action must be taken to regulate these unscrupulous operators. 15% of all labour exploitation cases investigated by the Helpline of the anti-slavery charity Unseen in 2022 took place in non-compliant hand car washes, with 553 potential victims across 160 cases.

The CWA has been tireless in its attempts to persuade the Government to act. Despite our concerns, they seem perfectly content to maintain the status quo.

The CWA is deeply concerned that so many non-compliant hand car washes remain free to operate illegally in breach of employment, fiscal, health and safety and environmental regulations. Eliminating the shameful practice of modern slavery should be a political and moral priority for any Government. We will continue to speak up and lobby Government on behalf of victims until action is taken.”