Modern Slavery Act of 2015

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A recent report concluded that modern slavery considerations are still not a mainstream concern for many companies.

By Clare Nida

In April 2022, the Financial Reporting Council, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, and Lancaster University published a report on Modern Slavery Reporting Practices in the UK (FRC Report), which concluded that reporting on modern slavery in both modern slavery statements and annual reports lacks the information needed for shareholders and wider stakeholders to make informed decisions as to the adequacy of companies’ anti-modern slavery practices.

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.

By Paul Davies, Jumana Rahman and Michael Green

26 March 2017 marked two years since the introduction of the Modern Slavery Act 2015.  As the signature legislation of the then Home Secretary (Theresa May – now Prime Minister), it heralded greater focus on an issue that impacts many around the world.  The Modern Slavery Act was also a further acceleration of legislative and other requirements and drivers for large corporations to undertake heightened diligence in respect of its supply chains.

By Jumana Rahman and Clare Nida

The UK is at the forefront of the global move to tackle human trafficking and prevent modern forms of slavery by introducing the Modern Slavery Act 2015 earlier this year. The new transparency reporting provisions, in force as of the end of October 2015, require companies with a total turnover of £36 million or more (calculated by taking into account the turnover of the organisation and its subsidiary undertakings) to report on the steps …

By Simon Bushell and Clare Nida

The Modern Slavery Act 2015 comes into force next month. The UK is at the forefront of a global move to tackle human trafficking and prevent slavery in supply chains. In June the G7 leaders declared their commitment to the issue, and as supply chains grow in complexity and pressure on production costs increases, we anticipate other countries will follow with legislation to combat forced labour. The Act follows the 2012 California Transparency in Supply Chains Act which applies to large retailers and manufacturers.

The Act introduces a requirement for businesses to report on the steps they are taking to ensure their supply chain is free from slavery and trafficking. This statement is to be prominently displayed on the homepage of the company’s website. This obligation under the Act applies across all sectors, and to businesses supplying both goods and services with a turnover in excess of £36 million, so its application is very wide.