Slavery was officially abolished in the UK in 1833 –and we still commemorate this historical event today. Although slavery may feel like a topic that should be confined to the past, but it is an issue that remains very real for many UK businesses, whatever their size or sector.
Estimates suggest that there are 24.9 million victims of modern-day slavery or forced labour globally[1], and 136,000[2] victims of modern slavery in the UK alone.
Expectations and pressures on companies to tackle modern slavery are increasing, driven by a greater understanding of the scale and scope of the issue and policy debates to which we are increasingly contributing ourselves. Despite the heightened focus, confusion remains as to what modern slavery is, how to spot it, and what actions and remedial steps should be taken once it has been identified, something we’ve established through a study conducted earlier this year [3].
Spotting the signs
The warning signs for modern slavery are varied. They can be signs of physical or psychological abuse, such as a hesitation to make contact with others, signs of isolation and little opportunity to move freely, unusual travel times or having few or no personal effects which can be visible by the wearing of the same clothes every day.
How to mitigate them
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 has been a milestone in putting modern slavery on the agenda and provides useful guidance for organisations with a turnover of over £36m. Unfortunately, it hasn’t gone far enough to actually start the eradication of modern slavery, especially within supply chains where companies often fall under the threshold for reporting. Many SMEs are therefore not aware of the Act [4], or if they are, lack an understanding of its implications. However, responsible practices must be exercised by companies of all sizes. Only then will it significantly contribute to preventing modern slavery effectively.
To help prevent abuses and implement good practice, there are some clear steps that organisations should demonstrate if they take their role as responsible businesses seriously, both for the protection of their own people, and those linked to businesses in their supply chain.
A good starting point would be to have clear, ready to implement action plans, a key part of which is producing a comprehensive Modern Slavery Statement that outlines the steps taken by the company and incorporates deliverable actions and documenting them for public consumption.
Due diligence checks across the entire supply chain and within the organisation itself, as well as regular supplier meetings to reiterate the criteria of expected standards, can further ensure businesses act responsibly. Visits to suppliers’ sites are helpful and should be done regularly, especially at locations that have had previous issues.
Training plays a key role too. For suppliers to strengthen their own policies in line with their own organisation’s principles; for employees on how to implement policies and identify forced labour; and for those staff members in procurement to recognise, prevent and report any form of exploitation.
And above all, companies need the commitment from senior leadership with board level responsibility, and a dedicated person that ensures the set standards are adhered to. That is fundamental to not only detect but tackle any issues that are identified.
Supply chains are now able to span an increasingly interconnected globe, which brings a heightened risk of exposure to poor working conditions and compliance gaps, making it more likely that unethical practices can go undetected. The fight against modern slavery is just beginning. Businesses need to take action to protect victims and make sure they actively audit, investigate and reduce exploitation, which will go a long way to pushing modern slavery out of legitimate supply chains.
This is not just because the risk of reputational damage and financial loss has never been greater for companies, but also because we all have a duty to protect the people we work with, the greatest asset of any organisation there is.
[1] ILO Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced labour and marriage report 2017
[2] The 2018 Global Slavery Index
[3] Survey Methodology: online survey with a large and representative sample of 505 UK SMEs (results contrasted with research with 55 UK Enterprises). Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) can be defined as companies that have a turnover of no more than £25 million and less than 250 employees.
[4] 20% of the 505 SMEs surveyed were unaware of the MSA 2015
