Thread by @SlaveryPEC

New @SlaveryPEC report published today backs the need for the Government to take greater role in enforcing Modern Slavery Act’s business supply chain transparency measures to make them more effective.

Research carried out by @BonaveroIHR & BinghamCentre 👏👏👏

Thread...

2. In 2015, the UK Government introduced section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act, requiring big businesses to publish an annual modern slavery statement. The intention was to enable civil society to hold business to account for addressing modern slavery in supply chains.

3. Researchers analysed civil society’s efforts to monitor business reporting, finding a "spectrum of effectiveness" in evaluation of the statements.

The statements didn't necessarily translate into meaningful changes in corporate behaviour and reduction in #modernslavery

4. The report lists several barriers to civil society monitoring:
✅lack of resources
✅lack of detail and transparency in modern slavery statements
✅lack of mandatory requirements
✅lack of clarity on the format of statements

👉enabling some companies to avoid scrutiny.

5. Report analysed other areas of corporate regulations (incl. gender pay gap, bribery, environment), where the state’s role is greater.

Range of mechanisms offer options to hold business to account:
✅inspections
✅fines
✅strict liability
✅directors’ liability
✅prosecutions

Welcoming recent Government announcements for reforms, the report recommends to:

1⃣ establish a single enforcement body to oversee section 54 compliance
2⃣ couple monitoring with enforcement powers
3⃣ carry out further research for opportunities for progress and reform.

6. Business supply chains are one of the key areas of focus for the Modern Slavery PEC. We look forward to working both with the Government and with business to make progress in protecting people from exploitative practices in supply chains across the world.

7. Full story on our website, including the links to full report and a handy executive summary.

modernslaverypec.org/latest/report-…

8. We're also holding an event today with @BonaveroIHR & @BinghamCentre to discuss how effective TISC measures have been, with @pcarrier26 from @BHRRC, Owain Johnstone from @ethicaltrade & Steve New from @SBSInsights modernslaverypec.org/latest/effecti…

Thanks to @ahrcpress for funding this research.

And thanks for any help promoting it @BIICL @WilberforceHull @rightsbeacon @turinginst @CSISlavery @UKAntiSlavery @FocusOnLabour @corecoalition @Anti_Slavery @BHRRC @ModSlaveryReg @ethicaltrade