The Big Debate: The Modern Slavery Bill

There are concerns that the new Bill will have little impact on the causes of exploitation. There is much debate in the UK about the best way to tackle human trafficking and forced labour, particularly in light of the forthcoming Modern Slavery Bill, which is currently before parliament and expected to gain Royal Assent in early 2015. The government proposed a 'cooperative' approach with business and companies will soon be asked to publicise what actions they have taken to ensure their supply chains are slavery-free. The University of Liverpool's Heseltine Institute have developed a guide to help businesses in the UK hotel sector to meet their responsibility to promote and protect human rights and to understand and address any associated risks. Dr Alex Balch, researcher at the University's Centre for the Study of International Slavery, reports: "Although many anti-trafficking groups have generally welcomed the prospect of new legislation in this area, some have expressed significant reservations. There are concerns that the Draft Bill with its emphasis on criminal legislation, rather than a focus on the environments where forced labour exists, could have little impact on the causes of exploitation. The government has proposed a 'cooperative' approach with business, but during the drafting of the legislation, extra requirements for business were included, which means companies over a certain size have to report on how they are ensuring that their supply chains are free of forced labour.