“OPINION: Britain's finance industry is floundering on modern slavery”

 

In a piece for Thomson Reuters Foundation, the Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner, Dame Sara Thornton, urges financial institutions to take the issue of modern slavery seriously. A new report has found worryingly low levels of awareness of forced labour and exploitation of workers in the UK’s financial sector.

 

"OPINION: Britain's finance industry is floundering on modern slavery" (Thomson Reuters Foundation, 18/01/21)

 

"Like any other business, financial institutions with a turnover of £36 million or above, have a duty to map out, address and report on the risks in their operations and supply chains under the Modern Slavery Act. But as gatekeepers to capital, which is the lifeblood of commercial survival, they should not underestimate the positive influence that they could have on supply chains both at home and abroad. Financial institutions should be routinely using their leverage to engage with their customers on ethical labour issues, but, as the report points out, this is happening too infrequently."

 

You can read the full article here and the new report here.