Hand Car Washes Believed To Be Using Modern Slavery
Thursday, 22. November 2018
A Government Select Committee investigation has revealed that hand car washes can be ‘modern slavery in plain sight’. As a result of which they have called for them to be licenced. The Environmental Audit Committee’s probe into working practices at hand car washes (HCW) was told they play host to a ‘spectrum of exploitation’.
They raised concerns regarding the non-payment of minimum wage, workers at risk of trench foot and chemical burns. And untreated wash water having toxic effects on plant and animal life. As a result, the industry and various Government bodies launched a pilot Responsible Car Wash Scheme earlier this year with washes urged to sign up to a set of standards and display a Reasonable Car Wash Operator logo at their sites.
The Environmental Audit Committee recommended a trial licensing scheme for HCW’s to tackle the ‘widespread and flagrant rule breaking’ across the industry. The committee says that authorities should start by ensuring that car washes in supermarket car parks are compliant with labour laws. Much more to come I suspect.
