Modern Slavery

18% of global forced labour victims work in the construction industry

With an estimated 49.6 million victims of modern slavery worldwide and an estimated 122,000 victims in the UK, countries are moving to make businesses more accountable for abuses in their supply chains. Governments around the world are insisting on anti-slavery transparency disclosures with a steady increase in criminal and civil enforcement actions being taken. No longer can businesses relinquish their responsibilities by turning a blind eye to what’s happening in the supply chain.

The built environment is considered high risk for modern slavery and wider exploitation due to the huge demand for labour, a severe skills shortage, complex supply chains and the prevalence of indirect and self-employment. The Unseen Modern Slavery helpline has reported a 35% increase in calls related to the construction sector. Operation Cardinas unravelled how an organised crime group placed more than 500 victims of modern slavery onto major construction sites in the South East between 2008 – 2019.

Consider your global supply chains – according to the Global Slavery Index 2023, at risks goods imported by the G20 are worth US$468 billion. Some of the big high-risk categories include electronics (US$243.6 billion), garments (US$147.9 billion) and solar panels (US$14.8 billion).

Do you understand your responsibilities under the Modern Slavery Act 2015?
Do you understand the potential implications of the growing wave of global due diligence legislation on your own supply chains?
Do your employees and supply chain know how to spot the signs of modern slavery?
What can you do to set up your sites to combat modern slavery?
What due diligence can you demonstrate?
Do you understand where the risks lie in your supply chain?
How do you embed best practice in combatting modern slavery in your procurement processes and contract management?

A practical guide to

Addressing modern slavery and labour exploitation in the built environment

These resources will support your due diligence approach by helping you to prevent, identify, manage, mitigate and remediate modern slavery and labour exploitation risks, across your operations and supply chains.

These headings align with the key themes outlined in BS 25700 – Organisational Responses Modern Slavery.

Explore more themes

1. Policy

Select a resource below

The Modern Slavery Act

E-learning Module

Key points you need to know about the Act and how it affects your business.

Intermediate

15 minutes

Sustainability

Search our catalogue of FREE training resources

18% of global forced labour victims work in the construction industry

The Modern Slavery Act

Modern Slavery Statements, the Modern Slavery Registry and Policies: Webinar Recording

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

ILO Guidelines For A Just Transition

PPN/009: Guidance on tackling modern slavery in government supply chains

Human rights due diligence framework

Supporting a Just Transition

Salient human rights issues

Ethical Labour Sourcing Standard: BES 6002

SA 8000

UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework

Beyond compliance in the renewable energy sector

Modern Slavery Statement Registry

Tackling modern slavery in UK service and infrastructure projects

Modern Slavery Assurance Guidance

EU: Due diligence to address the risk of forced labour

Brickmakers Quality Charter

GLAA – strategic assessment

Implications of the Modern Slavery Act

Tackling Modern Slavery in Solar PV Supply Chains: Challenges, Drivers, and Practical Guidance

Tackling Modern Slavery Through Purchasing Practices

Construction and the Modern Slavery Act: Tackling Exploitation in the UK (CIOB)

Tackling modern slavery in UK service and infrastructure projects

A toolkit for organisations in construction and property

UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights

Enablers for Delivering Modern Slavery Due Diligence: Webinar Recording

Case Study: Sky Innovation Centre

Addressing modern slavery in long and complex supply chains

Operation Cardinas: Addressing exploitation risk in the construction sector

EU: Due diligence to address the risk of forced labour

Modern Slavery Benchmark Tool

Corporate human rights benchmark

Ethical Labour Sourcing Standard: BES 6002

Combatting forced labour: a handbook for employers and businesses

Modern Slavery Assurance Guidance

Supporting a Just Transition

The UK Government Modern Slavery Statement

UN Guiding Principles Reporting Framework

Universal Human Rights Index Database

A just transition explained

Beyond compliance in the renewable energy sector

Business and human rights resource centre

Enabling a just transition of the built environment

Human rights due diligence framework

ILO Guidelines For A Just Transition

Respecting rights in renewable energy

PPN/009: Guidance on tackling modern slavery in government supply chains

SA 8000

A Practical Guide to Understanding Modern Slavery Risk in Supply Chains

Global Slavery Index Report

List of goods produced by child labour or forced labour

Worker wellbeing in construction – Unseen’s findings and what you can do

GLAA – strategic assessment

Tackling Modern Slavery in Solar PV Supply Chains: Navigating Risk – Webinar Recording

Marshalls Modern Slavery Risk Analysis 2022

Case Study: Sky Innovation Centre

Design for freedom international guidance and toolkit

Slavery and Trafficking Risk Template

Corporate human rights benchmark

Combatting forced labour: a handbook for employers and businesses

Modern Slavery Assurance Guidance

Tackling modern slavery in UK service and infrastructure projects

Child rights risks in global supply chains: why a ‘zero tolerance’ approach is not enough

Comply Chain App

Evaluating The Risk Of Modern Slavery And Labour Exploitation In Your Supply Chains: Webinar Recording

Identifying labour exploitation

Indicators of forced labour

Spotting the signs of modern slavery

Operational Toolkit: Combatting Slavery in the Built Environment

Supply Chain Mapping and Modern Slavery

Modern Slavery E-learning Module

Operational Toolkit: Combatting Slavery in the Built Environment

Beyond the Shadows – Unseen

Concrete – Tackling Modern Slavery in the Construction Sector

Horse Traders

A toolkit for organisations in construction and property