Modern-Day Slavery in UK Nail Salons

With media reporting of a UK crackdown on illegal working this week with hundreds of individuals arrested in January alone, the British Association of Beauty Therapy & Cosmetology (BABTAC) is urging consumers to be aware of the link between cheap nail treatments, and modern-day slavery.

As the nationwide demand for nail services continues to rise and 4,754 nail bars are now in operation in the UK* (an increase of ten per cent in just a year), unfortunately, the nation has also seen a rise in criminal-operated salons exploiting vulnerable migrants, reported to being subjected to harsh conditions and abuse.

One organisation that has long campaigned against modern slavery in the beauty industry is the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC), an insurance and membership association for beauty professionals who tirelessly campaign for safer beauty standards.

Campaigning for a better beauty industry

Lesley Blair MBE, CEO of BABTAC & CIBTAC says:

"BABTAC has been campaigning against modern slavery for over a decade. Despite the lack of recent headlines, this inhumane crime has not disappeared. Following the 2016 Operation Magnify, BABTAC has engaged in numerous online and round-table discussions with The Modern Slavery Child Exploitation Taskforce of the Metropolitan Police, striving to eradicate the exploitation of vulnerable individuals and lobbying for stricter regulations in the beauty industry."

What is the extent of the problem?

"Accurately quantifying the scale of illegal nail bars or the number of exploited individuals is challenging as these businesses operate under the radar. In 2016, Operation Magnify—a cross-government initiative targeting illegal workers in high-risk industries, including beauty—resulted in 280 nail bar raids and 97 arrests. The 2019 Essex Lorry Tragedy, which claimed 39 lives, revealed that many victims had been assigned to work in nail bars. As long as the beauty industry remains unregulated and consumers prioritise the cheapest manicures, this significant problem will persist."

But why do traffickers target nail bars?

Lesley explains, "With no regulation in the beauty industry, it is alarmingly easy to set up a nail bar with inadequately trained employees. Many consumers still don’t question whether their nail technician has a regulated qualification or proper manufacturer’s training. Unfortunately, this lack of scrutiny currently allows those running nail bars to exploit vulnerable people through modern slavery."

What impact does it have on the industry?

"The exploitation in nail bars harms not only the vulnerable workers but also the broader beauty industry and its clients. Professional therapists and nail technicians struggle to compete with cheap, sub-standard services.”

Not only this, but Lesley also explains the impact on consumers,

“Clients can often experience issues such as allergies to products like HEMA, long-term nail damage, and sub-par manicures that don't last, all due to untrained technicians and cost-cutting on products and equipment."

Calls for increased regulation and consumer responsibility

 “At BABTAC, we have long advocated for stringent regulation of the beauty industry, and continue to self-regulate our members, offering insurance only to those with appropriate qualifications. We urge consumers to only book treatments with reputable, insured, and qualified practitioners, as emphasised in our T.I.M.E campaign launched at UK Parliament last year."

Educating consumers and encouraging ethical practices

"Educating consumers on the warning signs of exploitation is key. We encourage our members to discuss these issues with their clients, especially during the current economic crisis, which drives consumers to seek cheaper options and inadvertently support unethical practices. BABTAC collaborates with The Modern Slavery Child Exploitation Taskforce to provide guidelines on spotting signs of malpractice and exploitation in nail bars, such as staff avoiding eye contact, over-attentive supervisors, lack of training certificates, and cash-only payments."