Sky News report that one of the UK’s biggest commercial property landlords has begun inserting anti-slavery clauses in tenancy contracts amid growing scrutiny of working practices at retailers including Sports Direct International. Sky News has learnt that Hermes Real Estate, an £8.2bn property group which is part of Hermes Investment Management, recently told Sports Direct of its anger at working conditions for the chain’s warehouse and shop-floor staff. Hermes Real Estate has also asked lawyers to include anti-slavery clauses in all new lease management contracts – although the provisions do not apply to existing tenancy agreements, according to people close to the situation.

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