The accusations have been made after an undercover investigation into Nickle Farm, which is run by fruit firm FW Mansfield & Son and takes workers from Pro-Force employment agency.
Aldi has suspended its orders, while Waitrose, Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury were reportedly also investigating the claims in the wake of the broadcast on Monday (October 19).
In footage filmed by an undercover reporter, a manager reacts angrily when workers on the packing line ask for a short break to have water.
‘I’m going to send this whole team home’
“If you don’t want to work, I’m going to send this whole team home. I going to get other people in,” he appeared to tell workers, before giving them 10 minutes off.
The workers lived in shared caravans, and one couple showed the reporter a video of sodden carpets, mouldy walks and a broken sink at a site used by Pro-Force.
The man described the accommodation as “like a ghetto”, adding: “The sleeping area smells like a toilet. They are not fit for humans.”
Another worker, who also spoke on the condition of anonymity, admits: “I didn't have the courage to tell my family back home about the conditions and what is happening here.”
In response to the investigation, Pro-Force managing director Matt Jarrett said the company was monitored constantly and has never failed an unannounced audit.
“We are therefore very disappointed that Channel 4 News has broadcast numerous and wide-ranging allegations of serious wrongdoing, despite Pro-Force having given them extensive evidence that its allegations were unfounded and its sources of information lacked credibility,” Jarrett said.
Images of a toilet
He said Channel 4 had edited together images of a toilet from a disused portacabin, a disconnected sink due for removal and damp patches in an “otherwise clean” caravan.
“It is not footage of a worker’s caravan, contrary to the assertions made by Channel 4 News,” he said.
Following the broadcast, the Gangmasters Liscensing Authority (GLA) said it looked forward to working with producers to gather potential evidence.
“The GLA can confirm that a number of premises were visited in the south east of England as part of an investigation into alleged unlicensed labour provision,” a spokesman said.
“This is very much an active inquiry, which began some weeks before Channel 4 made their recent approach concerning last night’s package.”
After the GLA inspection, Pro-Force said it investigated the practices of overseas agents and was concerned about the choices available to workers.
Jarrett said: “As a result we made the decision to terminate our contracts with those agents over a month ago and take the whole recruitment process back in-house to eliminate any potential risk to our workers.”
An Aldi spokesman said: “Our terms and conditions clearly state that growers must treat their employees fairly so we have immediately suspended supply with FW Mansfield, who supply Aldi and other supermarkets, including M&S, Waitrose and Sainsbury’s while we investigate this matter.”
FW Mansfield & Son has not yet responded to a request for comment.
The food and drinks industry was the fifth most prevalent sector for labour exploitation reports, according to Home Office minister Karen Bradley.
“Industries such as the food and drink industry, which employs many thousands of people, can play a vital role,” Bradley said.
“Modern slavery is an abhorrent form of exploitation, with ruthless criminals targeting society’s most vulnerable people for monetary gain.”