We fully recognise the challenges and risks of recruiting through new countries, both cultural and legal, the processes and laws in the source country are often different to those in the UK. When we needed to expand our source countries, largely due to the impact of the invasion of Ukraine, we wanted to ensure we opened up new countries without breaching UK law, breaching laws in the source countries and creating opportunities for workers to be exploited. Worker knowledge of UK laws, the SWS and how to apply is a critical factor in reducing opportunities for exploitation, but knowledge is often lacking in new countries due to the lack of experience of workers coming to the UK.
As such, earlier in 2022 we signed co-operation agreements with the Labour Ministry External Migration Department in Uzbekistan and the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan. These cooperation agreements provide Pro-Force access to citizens of those countries through official government channels. It also ensures that we have the best access to information about operating legally in those countries.
Fig.1 Pro-Force delegation meeting with the Ministry of Labour, Migration and Employment of Population of the Republic of Tajikistan