Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner reaction: Government's response to transparency in supply chains consultation 

The Government has today (22 September 2020) announced new measures to strengthen the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and ensure that large businesses and public bodies tackle modern slavery risks in supply chains.

The Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, said:

“I welcome the way the Government has responded to the public consultation on transparency in supply chains. New measures requiring big businesses to publish their modern slavery statements in a public online registry, and to bring public bodies within reporting requirements on modern slavery, have been widely supported.

This provides an excellent opportunity for public bodies with a budget of £36m or more to lead by example in stamping out slavery in their supply chains, and I hope that the legislation required to implement these new measures is developed at pace.

The Coronavirus pandemic has revealed significant issues in supply chains, both in the UK and internationally. While these proposals will go some way to addressing concerns, I do not believe that on their own they will clean up supply chains.”
  

Read the Government’s announcement here.