The United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery on the Labour Rights of Incarcerated People: A Case Study of England and Wales

ABSTRACT

This article presents the 2024 Report of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Slavery, entitled ‘Contemporary Forms of Slavery as Affecting Currently and Formerly Incarcerated People’, and assesses the regime in England and Wales on the basis of the Rapporteur’s recommendations. It suggests that the Report is a welcome development for it sheds light on an issue that is not frequently investigated by human rights bodies and institutions and has the potential to influence the development of national, European and international standards in the field. Against this background, this piece argues that prison labour in England and Wales falls short of the standards set out by the Rapporteur. Working prisoners often lack meaningful work opportunities and are excluded from labour rights that other workers have. The issues raised in the Report should be considered and addressed as a matter of urgency for the United Kingdom to comply with its human rights obligations.