ETI’s action on Modern Slavery

It’s been a fascinating experience to lead ETI’s work on Modern Slavery in the past few months. I’ve learned so much about working with our members – what matters most to them, how they manage their dilemmas and internal challenges. But most of all, I’ve been delighted to see how much they value the opportunity to collaborate with one another.

We’ve also been working with government and the British Retail Consortium. It’s been instructive to hear what matters most to Ministers and officials and to note how keen they’ve been to get advice from UK industry on mitigating risk in global supply chains.

It’s taken a few sleepless nights and a lot of patience at times, but we’ve achieved a lot these past six months. Some highlights:

ETI, the British Retail Consortium and our members signed and sent a letter to the Prime Minister recently on the Modern Slavery Bill. They sent a number of clear messages to the government. We had a response from the Home Secretary on David Cameron’s behalf, expressing appreciation for our active engagement on this issue, but reinforced their own current positions.

ETI also submitted Written Evidence to the Public Bill Committee on the Modern Slavery Bill. We called for:

  • A Transparency in Supply Chains clause
  • An extension of the role and remit of the Gangmasters Licensing Authority to other high-risk sectors
  • An independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner with oversight and power to ensure redress for victims
  • Public procurement systems should have zero tolerance for modern slavery in their supply chains
  • A greater role for the Foreign Office & DFID in tackling modern slavery in countries where products are sourced

I’d commend you to watch this seven-minute video below - it involved a leading legal expert on trafficking and forced labour in the UK, Parosha Chandran, and other anti-trafficking organisations.

The film is called  'Modern Slavery is closer than you think: Understanding Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking' and it gives an important profile to a Modern Slavery Helpline that is being run by the NSPCC to identify the victims of such crimes.

The Home Office’s campaign: 'Modern Slavery is closer than you think’  has a one-minute video based on this and other useful materials.

ETI is planning to do a lot more with our members on this. I've realised that we are in a unique position as a tripartite body to do things differently in tackling forced labour in global supply chains.  We can genuinely show how to go ‘beyond audit’, making visible the invisible – most of all, by working together, building on our respective influence, knowledge and networks.  Watch this space…