Spa therapists and assistants are the engine room of the industry, driving huge profits for operators. However, some of them are living in a shadow world of exploitation and misery as modern slaves. It’s time for the industry to tackle this poisonous practice
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 3
Therapists’ pay and working conditions need closer scrutiny / shutterstock/tcsaba
News is reaching Spa Business from a number of highly reputable sources about employment practices in parts of the spa and resorts industry which amount to modern slavery and human trafficking.
Spa therapists, mainly women, are being recruited from third world countries by agents who charge them a huge fee to secure jobs in high-end hotels and resorts as therapists.
In exchange, the agents then take away their passports and take a cut of their earnings until such time as their ‘debt’ has been discharged. We are hearing of ‘fees’ for placements of up to US$10,000 against earnings of US$400/month, meaning these women are being tied in to years of being ‘farmed’ for cash while being unable to escape, due to the confiscation of their passports.
We understand that hotel and spa operators are not directly involved in the transactions by which these people are procured, but that they take the staff from the agents for free without question – effectively turning a blind eye.
The spa industry has grappled with many reputational challenges over the years, such as the link to prostitution and the sex trade, and it appears that this horrible link to modern slavery is the next frontier on which we must fight the forces that would undermine us.
We already know the industry has a tendency to exploit women, particularly those who are from less well educated backgrounds and who do not have the power to control their own destinies. They are often worked too hard and paid too little by operators in pursuit of profits.
This unfairness is not confined to the developing world. We know of operators in Europe, the UK and the US who routinely overwork and massively underpay therapists, while generating huge returns for shareholders.
This is a continuum, with overworked therapists at one end and modern slavery at the other, and until something is done to rid the industry of this exploitation, our reputation as a sector from both a corporate standpoint and as an employer will continue to suffer.
Hotel, spa and resort operators must step up and take responsibility for this situation. If staff are being offered by an agent for free, then someone is paying and questions need to be asked about who that is.
We need to build an industry on firm and fair foundations and not on human misery and exploitation.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Elemis - Deep Benefits
With its market-leading Pro-Collagen skincare products already
a worldwide success, Elemis has further expanded its premium
anti-ageing range with a potent new seaweed-based Marine Oil
Promotional feature: RKF - a touch of luxury
As a global leader in the field of luxury
fabrics for spas and hospitality, RKF
is known for pushing the boundaries
of design and function. We find out
about the company's latest work
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
Spa therapists and assistants are the engine room of the industry, driving huge profits for operators. However, some of them are living in a shadow world of exploitation and misery as modern slaves. It’s time for the industry to tackle this poisonous practice
By Liz Terry | Published in Spa Business 2017 issue 3
Therapists’ pay and working conditions need closer scrutiny / shutterstock/tcsaba
News is reaching Spa Business from a number of highly reputable sources about employment practices in parts of the spa and resorts industry which amount to modern slavery and human trafficking.
Spa therapists, mainly women, are being recruited from third world countries by agents who charge them a huge fee to secure jobs in high-end hotels and resorts as therapists.
In exchange, the agents then take away their passports and take a cut of their earnings until such time as their ‘debt’ has been discharged. We are hearing of ‘fees’ for placements of up to US$10,000 against earnings of US$400/month, meaning these women are being tied in to years of being ‘farmed’ for cash while being unable to escape, due to the confiscation of their passports.
We understand that hotel and spa operators are not directly involved in the transactions by which these people are procured, but that they take the staff from the agents for free without question – effectively turning a blind eye.
The spa industry has grappled with many reputational challenges over the years, such as the link to prostitution and the sex trade, and it appears that this horrible link to modern slavery is the next frontier on which we must fight the forces that would undermine us.
We already know the industry has a tendency to exploit women, particularly those who are from less well educated backgrounds and who do not have the power to control their own destinies. They are often worked too hard and paid too little by operators in pursuit of profits.
This unfairness is not confined to the developing world. We know of operators in Europe, the UK and the US who routinely overwork and massively underpay therapists, while generating huge returns for shareholders.
This is a continuum, with overworked therapists at one end and modern slavery at the other, and until something is done to rid the industry of this exploitation, our reputation as a sector from both a corporate standpoint and as an employer will continue to suffer.
Hotel, spa and resort operators must step up and take responsibility for this situation. If staff are being offered by an agent for free, then someone is paying and questions need to be asked about who that is.
We need to build an industry on firm and fair foundations and not on human misery and exploitation.
Read more from this issue of Spa Business magazine
Promotional feature: Elemis - Deep Benefits
With its market-leading Pro-Collagen skincare products already
a worldwide success, Elemis has further expanded its premium
anti-ageing range with a potent new seaweed-based Marine Oil
Promotional feature: RKF - a touch of luxury
As a global leader in the field of luxury
fabrics for spas and hospitality, RKF
is known for pushing the boundaries
of design and function. We find out
about the company's latest work
The Ritz-Carlton, Langkawi, in Malaysia, has revealed a schedule for Global Wellness Day
(GWD) that includes guided rainforest walks, mindful movement and guided coastal meditation
experiences.
Longevitix, a clinical platform for preventive and longevity medicine, has launched its AI-
powered intelligence system to help physicians deliver continuous, personalised longevity-
focused care at scale.
Atmantan Wellness Centre, an integrative wellness destination in Mulshi, near Pune in India, is
expanding its portfolio by adding a new centre in Hyderabad that will launch between 2028 and
2029.
A recent survey by the UK Spa Association (UKSA) into the industry’s approach to cancer care
has revealed that almost half of participating respondents (46 per cent) are unaware that
cancer is a disability and guests with a cancer diagnosis must be given
Mexican operator, Solmar Hotels and Resorts, is hosting a series of events in celebration of
Global Wellness Day, including a Temazcal ceremony at its Playa Grande Resort and Spa in Los
Cabos.
Mandarin Oriental has announced a standalone residence brand, Mansions, which will debut at
Emirates Palace, Mandarin Oriental Mansions, Abu Dhabi, in 2029.
Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai in Hoi An, Vietnam, has put together a Global Wellness Day
(GWD) agenda with activations rooted in nature and shaped by four pillars of Joy – in
alignment with the day’s theme #JoyMagenta.
In the fast-paced world of fitness and wellness, where high-intensity workouts push us to
our limits and the sweat pours, the importance of efficient recovery cannot be overstated. [more...]
