Businesses learn how to protect their supply chains at Slave-Free Alliance seminar
Businesses are taking steps to ensure they have a robust response to the issue of modern slavery. With 77% of business leaders expecting there to be modern slavery somewhere in their operations or supply chains, it is important that all organisations take steps to ensure they have a robust response to this growing threat.
This week, professionals took time out of their busy schedules to hear from Slave-Free Alliance experts about how they can protect their supply chains against exploitation. The event – the first of its kind in Scotland – gave businesses an insight into the work of the newly established scheme, set up by Hope for Justice as part of our mission to bring an end to modern slavery by preventing exploitation, rescuing victims, restoring lives and reforming society.
Alister Bull, Training and Development Officer for Hope for Justice (pictured below, furthest right, with other members of the Slave-Free Alliance team), said: “Slave-Free Alliance makes a very clear pathway for people to have a robust response to the issues of modern slavery being faced by businesses, and gives them an opportunity to see their systems and procedures beyond the paper exercises, to being analysed and observed by experienced individuals who can understand how criminals might try to exploit them.
“It is about being part of a movement. It is about setting standards. It is leading the way for an improved global response to modern slavery.”
At the Free Up Your Business – Glasgow seminar, held at Brodies LLP office on Wednesday, February 27, businesses were offered free training and advice. They heard from keynote speakers and modern slavery experts, and had the chance to network with other like-minded professionals who also want to see an end to labour exploitation.
Alister Bull said: “We have received really positive feedback from businesses who attended our first Scottish seminar. We hope to hold more of these events across Scotland, Wales and in parts of England, too.”
Practical advice given to businesses includes training employees to recognise the signs and indicators of modern slavery in a workplace, and to increase awareness that this is a global issue that can happen locally as well as at international level.
The Modern Slavery Act states that any business operation in the UK with a turnover of more than £36m must publish a slavery and human trafficking statement.
Slave-Free Alliance is there to help not just these large businesses, but also small and medium sized enterprises. Members already include businesses of all sizes – from those with just a couple of employees up to multi-national corporations with billions in turnover. Slave-Free Alliance also welcomes member organisations from the public and voluntary sectors.
There are so many reasons to become a member – it not only helps employers to meet their compliance requirements, it also helps improve their public image, and shows that they are acting in an ethical and responsible way. This is about changing lives and ending slavery.
All profits made by Slave-Free Alliance are reinvested into Hope for Justice’s charitable anti-slavery projects.
To find out more, visit www.slavefreealliance.org or call 0300 008 0044.
