Modern Slavery Act – The slavery and human trafficking statement

Louise Walker
Legal Director
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The Modern Slavery Act 2015 requires large businesses to publicly state each year the action(s) they have taken to ensure that their supply chains are slavery free.

The slavery and human trafficking statement must include either a statement:

• of the steps the organisation has taken during the financial year to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in any of its supply chains, and in any part of its own business; or
• that the organisation has taken no such steps.

The statement may contain other information, such as the organisation’s structure, its due diligence processes in relation to slavery and human trafficking and any training on the subject that is provided to its employees.

The Home Office guidance recommends that the statement should be:

• written in simple language to ensure that it is easily accessible to everyone;
• succinct but cover all the relevant points and link to relevant publications, documents or policies; and
• in English, but may be provided in other languages that are relevant to the supply chain.

While there is no prescribed time limit in which to make the statement, the Home Office guidance provides that a commercial organisation is encouraged to make it within six months of the end of the previous financial year.

If the organisation has a website, it must publish the statement on that website and include a link to the slavery and human trafficking statement in a prominent place on the homepage.

If the organisation does not have a website, it must provide a copy of the slavery and human trafficking statement to anyone who makes a written request for one within 30 days of the company receiving the request.

Just Employment Law can provide further information on this topic and can also assist organisations in preparing a compliant statement.

Topics: Modern Slavery