The UK government continues to prioritise combatting modern slavery risks while also extending reporting deadlines amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Clare Nida
On 20 April 2020, the UK government published guidance for companies on how to approach their Modern Slavery Act statements during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has stressed that businesses should continue to identify and address risks of modern slavery in their operations and supply chains; however, businesses can delay publishing their statements by up to six months without penalty, if necessary, because of the pandemic. The government also provided recommended mitigation measures for areas of increased modern slavery risk.