Vertical Markets

Modern slavery reporting: need for more

by Mark Rowe

A lack of enforcement and penalties, plus confusion around reporting obligations, are core reasons for poor-quality modern slavery statements and the estimated lack of compliance from over a third of eligible firms, according to a review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and compliance with the law in supply chains.

The report says: “It is clear the current approach, while a step forward, is not sufficient and it is time for the Government to take tougher action to ensure companies are taking seriously their responsibilities to eradicate modern slavery from their supply chains.” Australia in 2018 passed its own equivalent act and has gone further in requiring companies to be transparent about their supply chains, the report adds. Australia has a government-run repository known as the Modern Slavery Statements Register; the report authors, Labour MP Frank Field, Conservative MP Maria Miller and Baroness Butler-Sloss ask that the UK have one too.

Under section 54 of the Act, a business in the UK with an annual turnover of at least £36m has to produce a slavery and human trafficking statement; not the same as actually doing anything to eradicate slavery from their supply chains. As the report points out, a company can state that it has taken no steps and still be compliant with the legislation.

The report called for the UK Government to offer better guidance, for businesses to show how they have carried out due diligence; such as a template. The report called for such reporting to be embedded into business culture, on a par with preventing bribery and corruption: ‘modern slavery reporting needs to move from being perceived as a Corporate Social Responsibility “tick-box” exercise to being regarded alongside other serious regulatory and governance obligations. Companies need to feel an equal pressure to report slavery as they do on equality and human rights. There is not yet equal pressure on companies to report their efforts to beat slavery in their supply chains.’

The report called for a named, designated board member personally accountable for the production of the statement. Local government, NHS trusts and police forces don’t have to provide such a statement; some are; the report recommended that section 54 be extended to the public sector. As in 2017, the UK government awarded contracts and frameworks to private companies worth £220 billion, the report suggests that the authorities use that leverage, so that non-compliant companies under section 54 be made not eligible for public contracts. The Crown Commercial Service should keep a database of public contractors and details of compliance checks and due diligence carried out by public authorities. The aim, the report says, should be for business, with civil society, to use purchasing power to eradicate modern slavery in supply chains.

For the full 56-page report visit the Home Office website.

Related News

  • Vertical Markets

    Lock, Chain and Cover

    by Mark Rowe

    The Metropolitan Police is reminding owners of mopeds and scooters to ‘Lock, Chain and Cover’ their machines as the force relaunches campaign…

  • Vertical Markets

    AI and gunshots

    by Mark Rowe

    Artificial intelligence, AI can be used to determine which ammunition, and ultimately which firearm, was responsible for a particular gunshot, say forensic…

  • Vertical Markets

    Smart city report

    by Mark Rowe

    ‘Smart cities’ are harnessing the Internet of Things (IoT) to make more intelligent, efficient, and sustainable transport and other services. However, digital…

Newsletter

Subscribe to our weekly newsletter to stay on top of security news and events.

© 2024 Professional Security Magazine. All rights reserved.

Website by MSEC Marketing