Clause 110 - privilege against self-incrimination
Nationality, Immigration and Asylum Bill
3:45 pm
Mr Neil Gerrard (Walthamstow, Labour)
I think that I understand some of the reasons for the clause, but a number of hon. Members are concerned about aspects of illegal working. We shall come later to the issue of trafficking for sexual purposes, but there is also a growing trend in trafficking for labour purposes—a modern form of slavery. There is no question but that people are trafficked and deliberately exploited for labour.
We must be sure that we are not introducing a provision that makes it difficult to get at the employers responsible for such exploitation. I am slightly worried that we are introducing a protection for an employer who has given information, particularly under clause 105. The answer may be that we must be careful how we use the provisions, and that we should target the people who are trafficking for labour in other ways. I know that the Government intend to deal with the issue—next year, we hope—in criminal justice legislation, but I seek reassurance that nothing in the Bill will hinder our ability to get at employers who traffic in labour and exploit extremely vulnerable people.