New analysis has found the global agri-food sector saw most alleged instances of abuse against seasonal workers with UK retailers among 600 major employers linked to cases
There were 21 cases of alleged abuse affecting migrant workers in agri-food supply chains in the UK last year, according to new analysis.
Figures from the Business and Human Rights Centre (BHRC), found that agri-food supply chains accounted for the highest number of cases relative to other sectors in the world (32 per cent), with the majority in agriculture and fishing; followed by processing and packing, and then distribution and shop floor.
In total, 747 cases of migrant worker abuse were recorded between 1 January and 31 December 2025, with the majority of cases (70 per cent) in the global north against migrant workers from countries including India, Nepal, the Philippines, Bangladesh or Vietnam.
Five UK and European retailers were named in the report as linked to the highest number of cases, with the most frequently recorded abuses overall recorded as violations of employment standards and occupational health and safety.
Workers also faced increased barriers to finding help if they had suffered abuse, the report said, due to geopolitical conditions, a transition to green economies and the climate crisis in the last year, which the report said has “reshaped migration corridors and generated new harms”.
