Modern slavery in construction supply chains

A recent Panorama documentary revealed the appalling scale and devasting impact of modern slavery on its victims. Shockingly, according to the ILO more than 40 million worldwide are estimated to be held in a form of modern day slavery that includes all manner of labour exploitation. In the UK there are conservatively said to be 13,000 modern day slaves – many believe the true figure is 10-fold. 

The UK construction sector and its global extended supply chains has been identified by the GLAA as one of the four highest risk sectors. Factors such as it being relatively unskilled, lowly paid and transient – trades workers move from site to site as the development progresses – make it especially vulnerable to exploitation by criminal gangs who commoditise people as a means to make money. 

The sector’s response – like most – has been mixed. Many have responded by demonstrating leadership, developing and crucially implementing policies and programmes that support identification of where the risks lie in their business, acting upon the knowledge to eradicate it when is found and providing remedy. 

Others are at various stages of their “journey”: legislation (the MSA 2015), and business imperatives – the increasing requirement for detailed evidence of human rights engagement in procurement frameworks, RFPs and tenders – are driving them along. Many in the sector have signed up to the voluntary GLAA charter (initiated by Dr Shamir Ghumra at BRE and myself). 

Beyond the tier 1 contractors, however, the awareness of modern slavery and the transparency around who is doing what in the space are less clear. Opportunities to learn and develop effective strategies abound, including at the Responsible & Ethical Leadership for Global Construction Supply Chains Conference. The 2019 conference, held at Aviva HQ in central London, EC3, on 6 November. 

The conference takes a thematic approach to the broader ethical and responsible sourcing agenda to explore the inter-connectedness of environmental and social (including modern slavery) sustainability. The full day event is spread across four distinct and related sessions, focusing on data/research, traceability, transparency, and disclosure, each with a keynote and a panel of expert speakers.

The 27 acclaimed speakers include Baroness Young of Hornsey OBE and Pr. Charles Egbu President, CIOB, who will be “in conversation” on the main stage. During the afternoon, Clare Marsden, Head of Group Commercial, Defra and Dave Knight, Sustainability Advisor, CARES, will also be “in conversation”. 

The conference keynote is Chris Harrop OBE. You can hear Chris and fellow speakers at the conference, Danny Hobson Head of Ethics & Sustainability, Arco, and Alice Hands, Sustainable Procurement Manager, Sir Robert McAlpine, discuss the conference’s themes and their business’s approach to modern slavery risk and responsibility in the podcast published this month.