Eradicating contemporary forms of slavery from supply chains 2015, para. 31
Paragraph- Paragraph text
- In the most recent development, in March 2015, the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed the Modern Slavery Bill, which includes a specific part on transparency in supply chains and imposes obligations on businesses to disclose the steps, if any, they are taking to address contemporary forms of slavery in supply chains. The duties imposed in the Modern Slavery Act can be enforced in civil proceedings undertaken by the authorities. Under the Act, company disclosures must be signed by a company director, creating clear accountability. Regulations are currently being prepared to operationalize the provisions for transparency, based on consultations. In some of the submissions for the consultations, it was suggested that a threshold be introduced that would bring even small companies within the ambit of the Act, which would require companies to reveal business relationships in the lower tiers of their supply chains and set clear criteria for disclosures in their reports; it was also suggested that reports be featured on a government website. The Act has, however, received criticism for creating a loophole that allows United Kingdom-based companies to effectively "hide" their supply chains if the goods produced do not enter the United Kingdom.
- Legal status
- Non-negotiated soft law
- Body
- Special Rapporteur on contemporary forms of slavery, including its causes and consequences
- Document type
- Special Procedures' report
- Means of adoption
- N.A.
- Topic(s)
- Governance & Rule of Law
- Person(s) affected
- N.A.
- Year
- 2015
- Paragraph type
- Other
- Paragraph number
- 31
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