Five people suspected of recruiting and exploiting Indian students working in care homes in North Wales have been handed Slavery and Trafficking Risk Orders (STRO).

The orders against: Mathew Issac, 32, of Cae Eithin, Abergele; Jinu Cherian, 30, of Cae Eithin, Abergele; Eldhose Cherian, 25, of Abererch Road, Pwllheli; Eldhose Kuriachan, 25, of Abererch Road, Pwllheli; and Jacob Liju, 47, of Lon Ceredigion, Pwllheli were granted at Mold Magistrates Court on 2 February following an investigation by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA).

The defendants are originally from the state of Kerala, India and have links to care homes in Abergele, Pwllheli, Llandudno, and Colwyn Bay, either by of working there themselves or having a direct family link to someone who works in them.

Issac and his wife, Jinu Cherian, also supplied workers through Alexa Care Solutions, a recruitment agency registered in May 2021.

The defendants, who have not been charged with criminal offences at this stage, were arrested by the GLAA between December 2021 and May 2022.

The arrests were made following reports to the Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline that Indian workers employed by Alexa Care were not being paid correctly or were having their wages withheld.

Over 50 Indian students have been identified by the GLAA as being potential victims of modern slavery and labour abuse over the last 14 months.

GLAA senior investigating officer Martin Plimmer said: “We are all aware that staffing levels have been a cause of concern in the care sector for some time, and have not been helped by the Covid pandemic.

“Unfortunately, where labour shortages exist, there is an increased risk of opportunists using the situation for their own financial gain, usually at the expense of workers that they are exploiting.

“Tackling the exploitation of workers in care homes is one of the GLAA’s top priorities, and this order is crucial in restricting the activities of those we suspect would otherwise commit slavery or trafficking offences.

“Through our investigations, we have concluded that such an order is proportionate to protect further workers from being potentially exploited and abused.”

Breaching the order is a criminal offence carrying a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

The GLAA has continued to work with Care Inspectorate Wales, and the relevant local authorities, throughout the investigation.

A Care Inspectorate Wales spokesperson said: “We work closely with GLAA during its investigations and issued guidance to registered providers in July 2022 about modern day slavery, to raise awareness and help prevent situations such as this happening in care services.”