Human Rights and Modern Slavery

Business has an important role to play in preventing human rights abuses and promoting respect for each individual. The promotion of human rights and the prevention of modern slavery are addressed in the Modern Slavery Act 2015. The Act requires businesses supplying goods or services in the UK with a turnover of £36m or more to publish an annual Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement to set out the steps they have taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in their business or in any of their supply chains. Whilst the obligation to publish a Statement only applies to larger organisations, it will have a cascading effect down the supply chain as large organisations are unwilling to do business with SMEs that have themselves opaque supply chains. 

IBE Guidance

• Take responsibility for the promotion of human rights in your supply chain and conduct appropriate ethical due diligence of your partners and contractors
• Report on the steps you have taken to ensure the respect of human rights in your business activities
• Take immediate action to improve the conditions when you find that human rights standards are not respected
• Don’t underestimate the risk of human rights violations that might occur in western countries and in your local business environment.