Car washes in focus on ‘Anti-Slavery Day 2022’

Sixteen anti-slavery organisations have joined forces to mark Anti-Slavery Day 2022 today (Tuesday October 18), with unregulated, non-compliant hand car washes highlighted as a key area of concern.

Working together under the banner of the ’Coalition to Stop Slavery’ the group is aiming for the new campaign ’Time to Stop Slavery’ to bring a major change in public awareness of modern slavery.

For several years, the Car Wash Association has been working closely with The Clewer Initiative, the Church of England and the Catholic Church’s response to modern slavery, to combat Modern Slavery on non-compliant rogue hand car washes by raising customer awareness of the untold misery of the operatives on these sites. The Clewer’s ‘Safe Car Wash’ app allows users to identify cases of exploitation to help end modern slavery at rogue car washes.

PRA and CWA executive director Gordon Balmer said: ”To coincide with Anti-Slavery Day on October 18th, 2022, we are asking members to consider placing flyers prepared by the Clewer Initiative on the shop counter. This will enable customers to make an informed decision and thereby avoid inadvertently choosing a non-compliant site for their car wash; instead, there are now numerous examples of legitimate and safe hand car washes from which to choose.”