The Home Office is writing to chief executives of 17,000 businesses telling them to open up about modern slavery in their supply chains, or risk being named as in breach of the law.
Under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, businesses with a turnover of more than £36m must publish annual transparency statements, known as a ‘Modern Slavery Statement’, setting out what they are doing to stop modern slavery and forced labour practices occurring in their business and supply chains.
The Home Office estimates that 60 per cent of companies in scope have published such a statement. Whilst there are many examples of good practice, some of these statements are poor in quality or fail to even meet the basic legal requirements, the Home Office complains.
Home Office Minister for Crime, Safeguarding and Vulnerability Victoria Atkins said: “It is horrible to think some of the goods and services we buy could have been produced by someone forced into modern slavery. This is abhorrent and as global leaders in the fight against modern slavery, we will not tolerate it. Some businesses are already leading the way in taking action by being open and transparent about what they are doing to identify, tackle and prevent forced labour in their supply chains, but too many are still failing to meet their basic legal obligations.
“That’s why the Home Office is sending letters to businesses today with a clear message that continued non-compliance will not be tolerated.”
The Home Office says that it intends to publish a list of non-compliant companies failing to publish a Modern Slavery Statement at the end of the financial year. The Home Office has published the Modern Slavery Annual Report 2018.
In a foreword to the report, Home Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Ending modern slavery is one of this Government’s top priorities, and I know it remains of paramount importance to the Prime Minister.
“New forms of exploitation are being identified and we need to tackle these, including by overseeing a step-change in businesses’ efforts to end slavery in their supply chains.”
Hence a review of the Act, due to report in March 2019.
According to the report, the National Crime Agency (NCA) assesses that the actual scale of modern slavery in the UK is gradually increasing. In 2017, potential victims of modern slavery were reported to originate from 116 countries. The most common country of origin reported for adult potential victims was Albania (19pc) and for those exploited as children, the UK (32pc). Other common countries of origin included China, Vietnam, Nigeria, Romania, and Eritrea.
For more on a recent NCA fortnight of law enforcement activity targeting modern slavery and human trafficking for the purposes of sexual exploitation, visit the NCA website. Suspicions relating to modern slavery and human trafficking should be reported via the Modern Slavery Helpline on 08000 121700, local police on 101, or 999 in an emergency.
