The Modern Slavery Act, which came into force November last year, will affect
a number of UK based organisations. Therefore, it is important that all businesses
find out if they fall within scope of this new piece of legislation, as non-compliance
could pose the risk of fines and ultimately damage brand reputation.
Purpose and aims
Modern Slavery is defined by the regulations as forced or compulsory labour,
slavery and human trafficking and the main purpose of the act is to prevent modern
slavery occurring within organisations and their supply chains.
The act aims to create transparency within supply chains, make large organisations
accountable and increase competition to drive up standards.
What’s required of obligated organisations?
Organisations that are affected by the Act will be required to produce a detailed,
annual Slavery and Human Trafficking Statement, or a nil statement, which should
outline all steps taken within the business and the supply chain. This should then
be published on the company website to ensure that the information is publicly available.
Valpak can help
Valpak has developed a software tool called TRACE (Transparent, Responsible,
Accountable, Credible and Ethical), which can manage customer reporting requirements
for The Modern Slavery Act, as well as for other pieces of legislation and accreditations.
This online portal will increase transparency of both upstream and downstream
business operations, and will build a clearer picture of your business’s performance
and liabilities; therefore, helping you to make informed operational and contracting
decisions.
Free events
If you would like to find out more about our TRACE portals or the Modern Slavery
Act, we are hosting two free webinars to cover both The Modern Slavery Act and Transparency in Supply Chains. Visit our Corporate Social Responsibility Events web page for
further information.