Britain's top firms 'wholly inadequate' in tackling slavery, survey finds
Findings come three years after the country introduces some of the world's toughest legislation on issue
A general view is seen of the London skyline from Canary Wharf in London, Britain, October 19, 2016. REUTERS/FILE
LONDON:
British companies' efforts to tackle modern slavery remain "wholly inadequate" three years after the country introduced some of the world's toughest legislation on the issue, a study published on Monday found.
Britain's 2015 Modern Slavery Act requires businesses whose turnover exceeds 36 million pounds ($48 million) to produce an annual statement outlining actions they have taken to combat slavery in their supply chains.
The study by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), a monitoring group, found that while most of the FTSE 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange complied, their statements were vague and lacked detail.
"The vast majority of companies' reported efforts are wholly inadequate," its executive director Phil Bloomer said in a statement.
Retailer Marks and Spencer performed best of the FTSE 100 firms, scoring 78 out of 100 points in the annual evaluation of the firms' statements.'
Pakistan home to world's third-largest 'slave' population
Drinks company Diageo and supermarket chain Morrison ranked second and third, with 62 points each, but almost three out of four companies scored fewer than 40 points.
Big brands are facing growing pressure from regulators and consumers to ensure their global operations are not tainted by modern-day slavery, which campaigners estimate affects almost 40 million people worldwide.
"Big business in the UK has had three years to get to grips [with] the government's anti-slavery rules, but there has been little genuine effort to end exploitation," said Nick Grono, chief executive of the Freedom Fund, an anti-slavery group.
Gambling operator GVC Holdings, plumbing products distributor Ferguson and online real estate portal Rightmove ranked lowest.
10 million slaves go missing from survey in India
Rightmove said it would publish a more detailed report next year, while GVC said the issue of modern slavery was of the upmost importance and it would make its statement more detailed and transparent.
Ferguson said the report was not based on its most recent statement and that it was firmly committed to eradicating any form of modern slavery.
Britain's Home Office (interior ministry) said it had written to the heads of 17,000 of the about 19,000 businesses covered by the law telling them to comply or risk being named and shamed.
Just over half have issued statements to date, according to Transparency in the Supply Chain (TISC) - a public database.
"The government needs to step up its demand on big business and follow through by enforcing the law," said lawmaker and anti-slavery advocate Baroness Lola Young.
"Not doing so will cause more suffering for vulnerable workers worldwide."
British companies' efforts to tackle modern slavery remain "wholly inadequate" three years after the country introduced some of the world's toughest legislation on the issue, a study published on Monday found.
Britain's 2015 Modern Slavery Act requires businesses whose turnover exceeds 36 million pounds ($48 million) to produce an annual statement outlining actions they have taken to combat slavery in their supply chains.
The study by the Business and Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC), a monitoring group, found that while most of the FTSE 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange complied, their statements were vague and lacked detail.
"The vast majority of companies' reported efforts are wholly inadequate," its executive director Phil Bloomer said in a statement.
Retailer Marks and Spencer performed best of the FTSE 100 firms, scoring 78 out of 100 points in the annual evaluation of the firms' statements.'
Pakistan home to world's third-largest 'slave' population
Drinks company Diageo and supermarket chain Morrison ranked second and third, with 62 points each, but almost three out of four companies scored fewer than 40 points.
Big brands are facing growing pressure from regulators and consumers to ensure their global operations are not tainted by modern-day slavery, which campaigners estimate affects almost 40 million people worldwide.
"Big business in the UK has had three years to get to grips [with] the government's anti-slavery rules, but there has been little genuine effort to end exploitation," said Nick Grono, chief executive of the Freedom Fund, an anti-slavery group.
Gambling operator GVC Holdings, plumbing products distributor Ferguson and online real estate portal Rightmove ranked lowest.
10 million slaves go missing from survey in India
Rightmove said it would publish a more detailed report next year, while GVC said the issue of modern slavery was of the upmost importance and it would make its statement more detailed and transparent.
Ferguson said the report was not based on its most recent statement and that it was firmly committed to eradicating any form of modern slavery.
Britain's Home Office (interior ministry) said it had written to the heads of 17,000 of the about 19,000 businesses covered by the law telling them to comply or risk being named and shamed.
Just over half have issued statements to date, according to Transparency in the Supply Chain (TISC) - a public database.
"The government needs to step up its demand on big business and follow through by enforcing the law," said lawmaker and anti-slavery advocate Baroness Lola Young.
"Not doing so will cause more suffering for vulnerable workers worldwide."