UK McDonald's and Bread Factory Missed Signs of Modern Slavery for Years

A Czech gang exploited 16 victims, forcing them to work long hours under threats and violence while employers overlooked numerous red flags.

Six members of a Czech family-run gang were convicted of exploiting 16 victims in the UK, forcing them to work at a McDonald's and a bread factory.
The victims, many of whom were homeless or struggling with addiction, had their wages stolen and were left with only a few pounds a day for sustenance.
Despite clear warning signs, such as multiple employees sharing the same bank account and home address, employers failed to act for years.
Victims worked up to 100 hours a week, with some enduring shifts as long as 30 hours, while living in squalid conditions like an unheated trailer.
McDonald's and other companies involved have pledged to improve systems to detect and prevent modern slavery in response to the revelations.