Slavery: Car Washes

(asked on 21st November 2025) - View Source

Question to the Department for Business and Trade:

To ask the Secretary of State for Business and Trade, with reference to the Centre for Social Justice's report entitled At what cost? Exploring the impact of forced labour in the UK, published in October 2024, whether his Department is taking steps to ensure the registration of hand car washing facilities.


Answered by
Kate Dearden Portrait
Kate Dearden
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Department for Business and Trade)
This question was answered on 1st December 2025

The government is creating the Fair Work Agency, which will enhance the enforcement of employment rights across sectors, including hand car washes. As announced in the Budget, the Agency will establish a dedicated 'hidden economy' team which will target sectors with multiple regulatory breaches, starting with hand car washes.

The initiative will address employment rights violations while collaborating with relevant enforcement authorities to protect workers and support legitimate businesses operating within the law.

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