Monday 21 May 2012 @ 16:10
Think Tanks
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UK businesses must ‘stamp out slave trade’, says leading think tank
UK businesses will be required to disclose all their efforts to end slavery, under a Bill
launched in Parliament last week.
The Transparency in Supply Chains Bill, drafted by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Labour MP Fiona MacTaggart, will demand that businesses investigate whether their supply chains are slave-free.
As part of landmark measures to raise awareness about the nature and scale of human trafficking, businesses will be encouraged to conduct an audit of their suppliers to check that they comply with anti-slavery laws.
An estimated 27 million people are enslaved worldwide and this latest legislation will
prompt all UK businesses, with a turnover of over £100 million or more, to take
responsibility to end this appalling abuse.
Employees working with suppliers should be trained to blow the whistle on questionable practice, and all information of the vital work being done to combat slavery should be published online as part of the business’s annual review.
The Bill, intended to foster cooperation and build a consensus on slavery, is expected to prompt a cultural change similar to that brought about by the environmental or fair trade movements.
It is inspired by successful Californian legislation which revolutionised business action against slavery. Kevin Bales, President of Free the Slaves in the US, and adviser to the CSJ Slavery Review, said ‘I continue to be amazed at the positive impact of the California law, one week WalMart is enlisting allies and collaborators from government, other businesses and NGOs, and the next week it is Exxon-Mobil.’
Christian Guy, Managing Director of the CSJ, said ‘The Bill will show that Parliament is once again serious in its intent to confront the tragic and disgusting abuse of modern day slavery.
It would set Britain apart as a world leader in that fight, which remains as tragically relevant today as it was when parliament last rose to confront it 200 years ago. We believe that British business can lead the way and help to stamp out slavery once more.’ The CSJ is conducting an 18 month review of slavery in the UK which will be published in the Autumn of 2012.
For media inquiries, please contact Nick Wood on 07889 617003 or 0203 008 8146 or Alistair Thompson on 07970 162225 or 0203 008 8145.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) is an independent think tank established in 2004 to put social justice at the heart of British politics
.
In 2007 the CSJ published its landmark report, Breakthrough Britain. This publication, which set out 190 evidence-based policy recommendations to tackle poverty in Britain, transformed the social policy and political landscape and was awarded Publication of the Year by Prospect Magazine in 2008.
Since Breakthrough Britain the CSJ has published over 40 reports which have shaped government policy and influenced opposition parties. These have included the seminal papers Dying To Belong and Dynamic Benefits, which has led the Coalition Government’s welfare reforms.
Further to this, the CSJ manages an Alliance of over 250 of the most effective grass roots, povertyfighting organisations.
launched in Parliament last week.
The Transparency in Supply Chains Bill, drafted by the Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and Labour MP Fiona MacTaggart, will demand that businesses investigate whether their supply chains are slave-free.
As part of landmark measures to raise awareness about the nature and scale of human trafficking, businesses will be encouraged to conduct an audit of their suppliers to check that they comply with anti-slavery laws.
An estimated 27 million people are enslaved worldwide and this latest legislation will
prompt all UK businesses, with a turnover of over £100 million or more, to take
responsibility to end this appalling abuse.
Employees working with suppliers should be trained to blow the whistle on questionable practice, and all information of the vital work being done to combat slavery should be published online as part of the business’s annual review.
The Bill, intended to foster cooperation and build a consensus on slavery, is expected to prompt a cultural change similar to that brought about by the environmental or fair trade movements.
It is inspired by successful Californian legislation which revolutionised business action against slavery. Kevin Bales, President of Free the Slaves in the US, and adviser to the CSJ Slavery Review, said ‘I continue to be amazed at the positive impact of the California law, one week WalMart is enlisting allies and collaborators from government, other businesses and NGOs, and the next week it is Exxon-Mobil.’
Christian Guy, Managing Director of the CSJ, said ‘The Bill will show that Parliament is once again serious in its intent to confront the tragic and disgusting abuse of modern day slavery.
It would set Britain apart as a world leader in that fight, which remains as tragically relevant today as it was when parliament last rose to confront it 200 years ago. We believe that British business can lead the way and help to stamp out slavery once more.’ The CSJ is conducting an 18 month review of slavery in the UK which will be published in the Autumn of 2012.
For media inquiries, please contact Nick Wood on 07889 617003 or 0203 008 8146 or Alistair Thompson on 07970 162225 or 0203 008 8145.
NOTES TO EDITORS
The Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) is an independent think tank established in 2004 to put social justice at the heart of British politics
.
In 2007 the CSJ published its landmark report, Breakthrough Britain. This publication, which set out 190 evidence-based policy recommendations to tackle poverty in Britain, transformed the social policy and political landscape and was awarded Publication of the Year by Prospect Magazine in 2008.
Since Breakthrough Britain the CSJ has published over 40 reports which have shaped government policy and influenced opposition parties. These have included the seminal papers Dying To Belong and Dynamic Benefits, which has led the Coalition Government’s welfare reforms.
Further to this, the CSJ manages an Alliance of over 250 of the most effective grass roots, povertyfighting organisations.
