Businesses urged to keep out slave trade

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Modern Slavery Partnership is offering advice and support to companies.

Under the Modern Slavery Act 2015, firms with a turnover of at least £36m must publish a modern slavery statement each financial year, detailing what steps they have taken to ensure trafficking is not happening in their business.

Firms are being urged to publish within six months of the financial year – September 30.

The partnership is holding a breakfast meeting to help people meet the requirement.

Jess Gealer, partnership co-ordinator, said: ‘Modern slavery statements don’t just impact on big businesses.

‘If you are a smaller organisation in the supply chain for a big business, you too will need to scrutinise your employment practices and suppliers in order to inform their statement.

‘We want to ensure that businesses are making this a meaningful process.’