Major UK fashion retailers are joining forces with law enforcement bodies to help eradicate modern slavery from the textiles industry.

The announcement follows the latest meeting of the Modern Slavery Taskforce, created by Prime Minister Theresa May, which discussed how to better identify and tackle forced labour in business supply chains.

The UK’s multi-billion fashion industry employs tens of thousands of people, which can make its companies vulnerable to unscrupulous providers and criminals who exploit workers for their labour.

The new agreement will commit its signatories, John Lewis, M&S, New Look, NEXT, River Island and Shop Direct, to work together with the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA), and others, to root out criminality and shine a light on hidden victims.

These efforts to uncover hidden slavery in businesses come as activity to respond to modern slavery offences has reached an all-time high, with police forces across the UK running more than 920 live investigations in September, involving over 2,000 victims.

The Prime Minister said:

Modern slavery is an abhorrent crime that denies its victims of liberty, and it is disturbing to think that some of the products we buy could have been produced by someone exploited into forced labour.

As global leaders in the fight against modern slavery, I am clear that this will not be tolerated in the UK – and our consumers won’t stand for it either.

I welcome the action being taken by businesses which are leading the way in being open and transparent about the modern slavery risks they face, and have pledged to raise awareness to prevent slavery, protect vulnerable workers and help bring more criminals to justice.

But with Modern Slavery police operations at an all-time high, clearly there is more to do to stamp out this vile crime and prevent criminal groups from operating in the shadows of supply chains to exploit people for commercial gain.

Businesses with a turnover of more than £36 million are already legally required to publish annual transparency statements, known as a Modern Slavery Statements, setting out what they are doing to stop modern slavery and forced labour practices occurring in their business and supply chains.

Last month, to coincide with Anti-Slavery Day, the Home Office wrote directly to the Chief Executives of 17,000 businesses to remind them of their responsibilities, or face being publicly named.

Published 12 November 2018
Last updated 29 November 2018 + show all updates

Scottish Secretary David Mundell today [12 November 2018] reiterated the UK Government’s commitment to help find a solution to the closure of Dundee’s Michelin factory and provide wider support the region’s economy.

Mr Mundell today attended the first meeting of the Michelin Action Group in Dundee, along with the Scottish Government and other partners, to discuss the next steps for the factory.

At the meeting the Scottish Secretary also confirmed the UK Government’s wider support for the region by announcing a £5 million investment for innovation and development in Dundee’s world-class gaming industry. He also confirmed the Tay Cities Deal – in which the UK Government is investing £150 million – will be signed on 22 November.

Mr Mundell said:

Today’s meeting was a constructive one, with everyone committed to doing everything possible to support the Michelin workers, and help find innovative proposals for a new future for the factory. That is the Action Group’s priority.

We also need to ensure the Dundee and wider Tay economies are as robust as possible. That is why I have today announced a £5 million investment in Dundee’s world-leading games industry through the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy. I look forward to signing the Tay Cities Deal later this month, which will bring a £150 million UK Government investment to Tayside, boosting jobs and prosperity.

The £5 million games industry funding, part of the UK Government’s Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund, will go to the InGAME project. Led by Abertay University, it brings together a number of games companies, the University of Dundee and the University of St Andrews in a dedicated research and development centre. Based in Dundee, it will provide product, service and experience innovation to games companies across the UK.