Modern slavery is a serious issue that affects millions of people around the world. It is estimated that there are over 40 million people in slavery today, and many of them are working in supply chains for major corporations. Small businesses can play a role in combating modern slavery by adopting a modern slavery statement.
A modern slavery statement is a public declaration of a company’s commitment to preventing and eliminating slavery and human trafficking from its operations and supply chain. It sets out the company’s policies and procedures for preventing modern slavery, and it provides a mechanism for stakeholders to report any concerns they may have about modern slavery.
What Should a Modern Slavery Statement Include?
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a modern slavery statement. However, there are some key elements that all modern slavery statements should include. These include:
- A commitment to preventing and eliminating slavery and human trafficking from the company’s operations and supply chain.
- A description of the company’s policies and procedures for preventing modern slavery.
- A mechanism for stakeholders to report any concerns they may have about modern slavery.
- A statement of the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
- A signature from a senior executive.
How to Develop a Modern Slavery Statement
Developing a modern slavery statement is a process that should involve all levels of the company. The following steps can help you get started:
- Assess your risk of modern slavery. This can be done by considering your company’s size, industry, and supply chain.
- Develop a policy on modern slavery. This policy should set out your company’s commitment to preventing and eliminating modern slavery, and it should provide guidance on how to identify and respond to modern slavery risks.
- Implement your policy. This involves putting in place procedures for identifying and responding to modern slavery risks, and training your employees on the policy.
- Monitor and review your progress. This involves tracking your company’s performance against your modern slavery policy, and making changes as needed.
Conclusion
A modern slavery statement is an important tool for small businesses to demonstrate their commitment to preventing and eliminating modern slavery from their operations and supply chains. By adopting a modern slavery statement, small businesses can help to make a difference in the fight against modern slavery.
There are many resources available to help small businesses develop and implement a modern slavery statement. The International Labour Organization (ILO) has developed a number of resources on modern slavery, including a guide to developing a modern slavery statement. The UK government has also developed a number of resources on modern slavery, including a toolkit for small businesses.
