Keeping an Eye Out for Modern Slavery

By Veriforce Chas, 17 October, 2023

In advance of Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October, UK compliance and risk management company CHAS reminds businesses about remaining vigilant against exploitation in their supply chains.

With an estimated 122,000 victims in the UK, modern slavery is prevalent across multiple sectors, but it can be challenging to detect.

However, there are some red flags that individuals, businesses, and organisations can look out for to help identify potential cases of modern slavery.

These include:

They may be escorted to and from work or the shops and often be forced to work excessively long hours without breaks or time off.

They might also be reluctant to interact with others, particularly police or other authorities. -item wp:list-item

Personal belongings and appearance: Victims might have limited personal belongings, including mobile phones or personal identification such as passports.

Without access to laundry facilities or financial means to buy new ones, their clothes may appear dirty or worn and unsuitable for work.-item wp:list-item

Suspicious working conditions: Unusual or hazardous working conditions, such as workers being locked inside a workplace, may indicate forced labour.

Workers may also be denied proper safety equipment, such as appropriate PPE, increasing their risk of injury or health issues.-item wp:list-item

Signs of physical and psychological abuse: Forced labour victims might show signs of malnourishment due to lack of food and poor nutrition.

They may be being physically abused and regularly display injuries such as bruising or unhealed wounds.

Keep in mind that the presence of one or more of these red flags does not necessarily indicate slavery

If you suspect modern slavery or human trafficking, contact the Modern Slavery Helpline on: 08000 121 700 or online.

When it comes to preventing modern slavery within supply chains, working with an expert can help organisations verify their contractor base and bolster supply chain due diligence.

For example, CHAS clients can use the CHAS Client portal to find contractors qualified to the CHAS Elite standard, which incorporates the Common Assessment Standard, a qualification that assesses businesses across 13 elements, including modern slavery.

CHAS is also proud to be part of the Supply Chain Sustainability School's Modern Slavery Group, which drives a common approach to identifying, preventing, mitigating and remediating modern slavery risks and labour exploitation.

They offer a library of free resources, including videos, e-learning, toolbox talks, practical toolkits and templates to help businesses tackle modern slavery with new resources planned for early 2024, including a common heatmap for exploitation risks.