Modern slavery is a serious crime that affects millions of people worldwide. It is defined as the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people for the purpose of exploitation. This can include forced labour, debt bondage, forced marriage, or any other form of exploitation that violates human rights.
The UK government has taken steps to combat modern slavery, including the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. This Act requires businesses with a turnover of £36 million or more to publish an annual Modern Slavery Statement.
A Modern Slavery Statement sets out the steps that a business is taking to prevent and address modern slavery in its operations and supply chains.
What should be included in a Modern Slavery Statement?
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 sets out the following six key elements that should be included in a Modern Slavery Statement:
- A description of the business’s structure, its operations, and its supply chains.
- A description of the risks of modern slavery in the business’s operations and supply chains.
- A description of the steps that the business is taking to prevent and address modern slavery in its operations and supply chains.
- A description of the effectiveness of the business’s steps to prevent and address modern slavery in its operations and supply chains.
- A statement of the business’s commitment to preventing and addressing modern slavery.
- The date on which the statement was approved by the board of directors.
In addition to these six key elements, businesses may also choose to include other information in their Modern Slavery Statement, such as:
- Examples of good practice in preventing and addressing modern slavery.
- Details of any training or awareness-raising activities that have been undertaken.
- Information on how stakeholders can report concerns about modern slavery.
How to write a Modern Slavery Statement
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to writing a Modern Slavery Statement. However, there are a number of steps that businesses can take to ensure that their statement is effective:
- Start by understanding the risks of modern slavery in your business and supply chains. This can be done by conducting a risk assessment.
- Develop and implement a set of policies and procedures to prevent and address modern slavery. These policies and procedures should be based on the risks that you have identified.
- Train your staff on your policies and procedures, and make sure that they understand their responsibilities in preventing and addressing modern slavery.
- Monitor and review your policies and procedures regularly to ensure that they are effective. This can be done by conducting regular audits or reviews.
- Publish your Modern Slavery Statement on your website and make it easily accessible to stakeholders.
Conclusion
Modern slavery is a serious crime that can have a devastating impact on victims. Businesses have a responsibility to take steps to prevent and address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. A well-written Modern Slavery Statement is an important part of this effort.
By following the steps outlined in this article, businesses can create Modern Slavery Statements that are effective in preventing and addressing modern slavery. This will help to protect victims and ensure that businesses are meeting their ethical and legal obligations.
