A modern slavery business risk is a situation in which this slavery is present. This slavery can come into play when people are forced to work for little or no pay and live in terrible conditions.
This blog post will explore the main type of modern slavery business risk that you should be aware of: human trafficking. We’ll discuss how this slavery business risk affects your company as well as steps you can take to prevent them from happening within your organization.
Human trafficking:
One slavery business risk is human trafficking. Human trafficking occurs when someone is forced or coerced into performing labor or sexual services against their will. This can be done through threats, violence, or fraud. Victims of human trafficking can be found in a variety of industries, including the service industry, agriculture, and manufacturing.
Human trafficking can have a serious impact on businesses. Not only does it violate workers’ rights and dignity, but it also creates a security risk for companies. Trafficked workers may be reluctant to report abuse or theft for fear of being deported or punished by their traffickers. In addition, businesses that are associated with human trafficking may face negative publicity and reputational damage.
There are several things you can do to protect your business from this type of slavery.
- Implement a slavery policy to address the issue of human trafficking in your supply chain and workplace, so that you can ensure employees’ safety and privacy regarding their immigration status.
- Conduct an audit on suppliers associated with this type of slavery risk by using tools like Verisk Maplecroft’s Business Human Rights Risk Assessment Tool or Slavery Map tool.
This will help identify areas for improvement in supplier working conditions which could potentially reduce these slavery risks. Use this information to develop training programs for workers who may be at higher risk of being trafficked.
- Keep up to date with this slavery legislation and case law so you can ensure your policies are compliant. For example, the UK’s Slavery Act 2015 introduced new offenses relating to human trafficking and this slavery which all businesses must be aware of.
Businesses need to be proactive in identifying and mitigating any potential risk of this slavery in their supply chains. By taking some simple steps, you can help protect your business from this serious issue. Stay informed and stay safe.
For more information on modern slavery business risk, check online.