Neil Howard

Neil Howard is an academic activist and Prize Fellow at the University of Bath. His research focuses on unfree labour, and on the workings of the policy establishment as it seeks to respond. Follow him on twitter @NeilPHoward.

Revolutionise social assistance by learning to trust

Welfare almost always comes with strings attached. Imagine what would happen if it didn't

By Neil Howard

/ 4 Feb 2025

Revolutionise social assistance by learning to trust

INTERVIEW: Why does Freedom United use the term ‘modern slavery’?

‘Modern slavery’ is a vague but powerful rallying call. To use it is a choice that must be made with care.

By Neil Howard and Joanna Ewart-James

/ 16 Nov 2020

INTERVIEW: Why does Freedom United use the term ‘modern slavery’?

What is exploitation anyway?

Exploitation remains undefined in international law, and this has consequences for the exploited people that policymakers seek to protect.

By Neil Howard

/ 15 Nov 2020

Child workers need rights, not policing, to weather the pandemic

The development community wants to help child workers during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, but unless it rethinks its programming it could cause harm itself.

By Neil Howard, Sam Okyere and Roy Maconachie

/ 12 Jun 2020

Child workers need rights, not policing, to weather the pandemic

Letter: the UK needs a Universal Basic Income

The Chancellor's measures to support workers in employment are welcome. Yet we must go further to make sure that nobody falls through the cracks.

By Neil Howard

/ 25 Mar 2020

Letter: the UK needs a Universal Basic Income

Universal basic income: a way through the storm?

Vast numbers of people around the world don’t have sufficient cash to ride out life’s problems. Could a basic income see them through?

By Neil Howard

/ 16 Sep 2019

Universal basic income: a way through the storm?

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: where do we go from here?

A lot of work remains to be done in order to end forced labour. Thankfully, organisers and advocates around the globe are pioneering promising solutions. It's time to follow their lead.

By Genevieve LeBaron, Penelope Kyritsis, Neil Howard and Cameron Thibos

/ 19 Mar 2019

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: where do we go from here?

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: governance gaps

Governance gaps help employers push problems of forced labour even deeper into the shadows of supply chains.

By Genevieve LeBaron, Penelope Kyritsis, Cameron Thibos and Neil Howard

/ 19 Mar 2019

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: governance gaps

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: irresponsible sourcing practices

Forced labour is illegal and its risks are widely documented. Yet so many companies continue to use irresponsible sourcing practices – established triggers of forced labour. Why is this the case?

By Genevieve LeBaron, Penelope Kyritsis, Cameron Thibos and Neil Howard

/ 19 Mar 2019

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: irresponsible sourcing practices

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: outsourcing

Outsourcing allows big brands to distance themselves from big human rights abuses, including forced labour.

By Genevieve LeBaron, Penelope Kyritsis, Cameron Thibos and Neil Howard

/ 19 Mar 2019

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: outsourcing

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: concentrated corporate power and ownership

Multinational corporations are becoming increasingly powerful – and this has serious implications for workers at the bottom of supply chains.

By Genevieve LeBaron, Penelope Kyritsis, Cameron Thibos and Neil Howard

/ 19 Mar 2019

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: concentrated corporate power and ownership

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: restrictive mobility regimes

Border restrictions are often justified as measures to protect migrants from "trafficking", but borders actually increase migrants' vulnerability to forced labour and labour exploitation.

By Genevieve LeBaron, Penelope Kyritsis, Cameron Thibos and Neil Howard

/ 19 Mar 2019

Confronting the root causes of forced labour: restrictive mobility regimes