The Modern Slavery Act (MSA) is a UK law that came into effect in 2015. It requires businesses with a turnover of £36 million or more to produce an annual statement on the steps they have taken to prevent slavery and human trafficking in their supply chains. This statement must be approved by the board of directors and published on the company’s website.
The MSA has been praised for its potential to help reduce modern slavery. However, it has also been criticized for being too narrow in its scope and for not going far enough to hold businesses to account. Despite these criticisms, the MSA remains an important piece of legislation that can help to raise awareness of modern slavery and push businesses to take action to prevent it.
What should be included in a modern slavery act statement?
The MSA requires businesses to report on the following six areas:
- The organization’s structure, business and supply chains.
- Its policies on slavery and human trafficking.
- Its due diligence processes for identifying and mitigating risks of slavery and human trafficking in its supply chains.
- The effectiveness of its due diligence processes.
- Any training on slavery and human trafficking that it has provided to its staff.
- Its key performance indicators relating to slavery and human trafficking.
Businesses are also encouraged to include information on the following:
- Any partnerships with other organizations to combat slavery and human trafficking.
- Any ethical sourcing initiatives.
- Any other relevant information.
How to write a modern slavery act statement
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a modern slavery act statement. However, there are some general tips that you can follow:
- Be clear and concise.
- Use plain English.
- Avoid jargon.
- Be honest and transparent.
- Provide evidence to support your claims.
- Get your statement reviewed by a lawyer before you publish it.
Once you have written your statement, you should publish it on your website and make it easily accessible to all stakeholders.
Conclusion
The Modern Slavery Act is an important piece of legislation that can help to reduce modern slavery. By producing a robust modern slavery act statement, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to preventing slavery and human trafficking and help to raise awareness of this important issue.
There are a number of resources available to help businesses write a modern slavery act statement, including the government’s own guidance. If you need help, please do not hesitate to seek professional advice.
