HR’s Role in Abolishing Modern Slavery

What HR professionals can do about modern slavery, with expert input from Susan Banister of the Slave-Free Alliance About this Event This hard-hitting event with Susan Banister of the Slave-Free Alliance will focus on what HR professionals can do about modern slavery. Susan is Modern Slavery consultant with hands-on experience of rescuing victims of forced labour in the UK. Background Modern slavery is where one person controls another by exploiting a vulnerability. It is often linked with human trafficking, where a person is forced into service against their will – usually forced work or prostitution. The control can be physical, financial or psychological. Legal responsibilities The Modern Slavery Act requires all businesses with an annual turnover above £36 million to publish an annual statement on Modern Slavery and Trafficking, identifying what steps they are taking to ensure that slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in their business (and their supply chain). Despite this, one survey indicated that 77% of organisations expected to find modern slavery in their operations or supply chain. Ethical practice Alongside the legal responsibilities, ethical practice is one of the core behaviours in the CIPD Profession Map. Reputations are based not only on an organisation’s delivery of its products and services, but on how it values its relationships with its staff and stakeholders, and how it establishes responsibility and accountability towards them. Hiding in plane sight If you think slavery is something that used to happen or happens far away, think again. In 2019, the CPS concluded the UK’s largest ever modern slavery prosecution, believed to be the biggest of its type in Europe. Many hundreds of vulnerable victims were lured from abroad with the promise of free accommodation and well-paid employment. The workers were paid as little as £10 a week, housed in cramped, substandard accommodation and were given so little food that many had to eat at soup kitchens to survive. About the Slave-Free Alliance Slave-Free Alliance is a social enterprise and membership initiative launched by anti-slavery charity Hope for Justice. Members include global multinationals, household names like Aviva, Dixons Carphone, Clarks and Arriva, as well as small to medium enterprises (SMEs) with only a few employees. The University of Manchester was the first higher education institution to become a member of Slave-Free Alliance. They all share a common goal: working towards a slave-free supply chain. Follow Susan Banister on Twitter @susanbanister and visit the Slave-Free Alliance website