Five ways to clamp down on modern slavery

Today marks the fifth anniversary of the introduction of mandatory modern slavery statements for UK employers. 

These require big companies to confirm the steps they have taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in the business (or in any supply chain). 

But loopholes in the legislation mean that employers can simply declare that no steps have been taken.  

And there is no duty on employers to put in place to tackle the risks they do identify. 

Modern slavery is an international problem. But it’s also a UK problem. 

International Labour Organisation estimates that there are over 40 million people living in modern slavery today, including 25 million in forced labour and 15 million in forced marriage. 

In Britain, high-risk sectors for modern slavery include domestic work, agriculture, logistics and services such as nail bars and cleaning, with the number of slaves in the UK almost certainly higher than the 10-13,000 the government estimates. 

The coronavirus outbreak shone a spotlight on practices in the Leicester textile trade where a local MP has claimed 10,000 people are working in conditions of slavery. 

Meanwhile, trade unions, journalists and academics have long warned of employment rights abuses in the city. 

And a recent independent inquiry into online retailer Boohoo, which is the dominant customer for the city’s garment factories, found “endemic problems” including potentially life-threatening fire risks and failure to pay the minimum wage. 

Trade unions are the way forward 

The TUC has been working with Leicester city council to persuade clothing brands to only source from factories that allow access to trade unions to ensure good health and safety and employment practices are being undertaken. 

This would ensure workers are well-treated and that reputable clothing brands feel comfortable sourcing supplies from the city. 

But there also needs to be an overhaul of existing laws to move modern slavery reporting from box-ticking to an obligation for companies to take serious action on slavery in their supply chains or face enforcement action and public condemnation. 

Last year, an independent review of the 2015 Modern Slavery Act made clear that much more robust action is needed from government to tackle this scourge. 

The TUC believes that government and clothing retailers need to get a grip of this problem. 

We propose: 

• Sanctions for companies that don’t comply with modern slavery laws, including fines and disqualifying of directors. 

• Reform of the Modern Slavery Act, to force companies to publish a plan outlining how they’ll tackle modern slavery risks in their supply chains. 

• Joint and several liability so that workers can enforce their rights against any company in a supply chain. 

• The extension of licensing by the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority to textile factories. 

• Access to workplaces for trade unions to check that health and safety and employment rules are being adhered to and represent members. 

Some of these measures, such as licensing, would require secondary legislation. 

Others, such as trade union access, could be achieved through an agreement by the major clothing brands that they’ll only source from factories that provide trade union representatives with unhindered access.  

However, we also believe that trade union access to discuss the benefits of membership should be enshrined in law. 

The forthcoming Employment Bill is a fantastic opportunity for the government to take serious steps towards abolishing modern slavery in the UK for good.