It is estimated that over 50 million people around the world are currently trapped in modern slavery, with more than 100,000 of those in the UK. Projections put modern slavery at costing the UK £33 billion per year.
In his home country of Iran, Armin Taghipour, was a highly successful chef working at some of the country’s top restaurants.
He rose to national fame when he appeared on reality TV series Dastpokht, known as Iran’s version of MasterChef. With TV fame came brand deals and TV cooking slots, and soon Armin was receiving a flurry of offers and opportunities.
One of the offers which came his way was to become a Head Chef at an independent hotel in the UK. With an interest in travelling and working abroad, and ambitions to further his culinary career and build on his TV fame in Europe, Armin accepted the position.
However, upon arrival in the UK, Armin’s dreams took a dark turn and his new head chef role became a nightmare. Armin found himself being exploited, bullied and emotionally abused by his new employer, the hotel owner.
Armin has now partnered with Sheffield-based modern slavery charity Causeway, to produce a film sharing his story and highlighting that modern slavery can happen to anybody.
He also recently completed the Ingredients for Life programme, a cookery course for modern slavery survivors run by Causeway, which provides survivors with new skills and a community to build friendships and self-esteem.
Armin says of his experience: “I was made to work from 7am until 10pm, 7 days a week. She paid me for my first two weeks in the job, but then she wouldn’t pay me. When I asked for my wages, she said she would pay me soon, but she never did. I had no money to live on, and she knew this.”
In a situation which Causeway say is very common, Armin’s employer provided him with his skilled worker visa, accommodation and food. This put Armin in a particularly vulnerable position with everything reliant on his employer.
Even when Armin was able to go back to his accommodation to sleep, his employer would be calling him throughout the night. This eventually led to Armin developing severe mental health problems.
“I didn’t know what to do. I had nowhere to go. I started getting lots of fears and anxieties. It was like a mental pain for me, like I was losing my personality.” Armin said.
Whenever Armin did try to speak up for better treatment, his employer threatened to have him deported. “I didn’t know anything about this country or the law, and my employer took advantage of that.”
Citizens Advice advised Armin to make a complaint to the police. From there he was referred into the government’s National Referral Mechanism, who referred him on for modern slavery support. “They said they would provide a safe house for me and that I could go and stay there and wait for the next decision which they would make for me.”
After receiving modern slavery support, Armin has recently been able to move out of his safehouse to live independently in the community.
He has also received a new skilled working visa which isn’t linked to his former employer and is now determined to find safe employment and rebuild his dreams and career.
Ben Greaves, Causeway’s Head of Anti-Slavery Services, said: “It has been a real pleasure getting to know Armin through his time on Causeway’s Ingredients for Life programme. We are very grateful to him for bravely sharing his own experience of modern slavery. Modern slavery does not discriminate, it can take many forms, and is happening in towns and cities across the UK.”
For more information, to donate, support or to access the course, please email ifl@wearecauseway.org.uk or visit www.wearecauseway.org.uk.
