Dr. Peter Olayiwola, Lecturer in Sociology and Criminology at University of Aberdeen, will have an article published in a forthcoming special issue of Sociology on Slavery and Unfreedom in the Contemporary World: A Sociological Lens. Dr. Olayiwola's article will be entitled: 'Modern Slavery and Immigration Regimes and Migrant Workers in Social Care'.
This study contributes to knowledge and debates on modern slavery through a case study of migrant workers on social care visas in the UK. In doing so, it counters dominant narratives of modern slavery that present migrant workers primarily as victims of exploitation by criminal elements. Instead, it analyses the structures that produce vulnerability, drawing on qualitative interviews carried out between 2023–2024. Through this analysis, the study shows how state policies themselves contribute to migrants’ vulnerability and exploitation.
The special issue is scheduled for publication later in 2026.