UK: Car wash scheme launches at House of Lords
The Scheme aims to tackle modern slavery and a lack of compliance within the industry. It will target labour abuse and lack of adherence to regulations at hand car washes, whilst enabling consumers to identify a compliant car wash.
The Responsible Car Wash Scheme has been developed alongside and with the support of the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), HSE and other Government bodies in response to concerns regarding irregular and sometimes illegal practices in the expanding hand car wash industry.
Sir David Metcalf, Director of Labour Market Enforcement, has highlighted that hand car washes are at risk of being non-compliant with a raft of regulations and legislation, including modern day slavery in his recently published strategy.
The Scheme, which will be piloted across the Midlands in November, has been developed by the Downstream Fuel Association alongside the GLAA, Police, the Health and Safety Executive, Her Majesty's Revenue and Customs, the Environment Agency and the Car Wash Association.
The involvement of anti-slavery charity Unseen has allowed the Scheme to take into account the indicators that need to be considered when visiting car wash sites.
"We have seen numerous problems across this industry, from modern day slavery, debt bondage, failure to pay proper wages, through to workers not being provided with any appropriate or personal protective equipment,” Darryl Dixon from the GLAA.
It is estimated that there are up to 20,000 hand car washes in the UK and whilst some operate legally, Government agencies have seen issues at many sites including; modern day slavery, health and safety breaches, environmental breaches as well as operating without paying the appropriate tax.
