Companies must be held to account when they fail to prevent abuses and harms
The article Blog: We need a new law to protect human rights and the environment first appeared on the UNISON National site.
Unions seek investor action in challenging labour rights abuses
UNISON is supporting a Sri Lankan trade union fighting to represent beleaguered rubber glove factory workers
The article Unions seek investor action in challenging labour rights abuses first…Read more…
Measuring the impact of COVID-19 on global labour rights
A new report from UNISON reveals that the pandemic has had a negative affect on ethical procurement
The article Measuring the impact of COVID-19 on global labour rights first appeared on the UNISON…Read more…
Newham Full Council Meeting 17 September 2018 (my twitter feed)
A busy evening. Confirmed new Chief Executive. Passed motions, submitted petitions, deputation that schools should have ballots before deciding to become academies, Councillor questions, public questions, Mayor and CEO report.
At @NewhamLondon Full Co…Read more…
‘Nail on the head’
The depth of labour exploitation in the UK was laid bare today (May 8) in a report highlighting shocking practices – including slavery – in a number of sectors. The report by the Gangmasters…Read more…
Modern slavery
Sports Direct was named in three separate modern slavery trials within six months this year, all of which related to Polish migrants being sent to work at the firm’s Shirebrook warehouse through…Read more…
Why don’t companies recognise that unions are essential in the fight against modern slavery?
Everyone, it seems, is now committed to ending forced labour and child labour. Governments, international institutions, NGOs and businesses have come under enormous pressure to do something — and to be seen to be doing something. A good example of this is a resolution on forced labour passed…Read more…
Tackling fraudulent & abusive recruitment: ILO signs new anti-slavery pledge with UK
This afternoon I was at the Home Office to witness the signing of a ‘letter of intent’ between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Gangmasters and Labour Abuse Authority (GLAA) about collaboration in the fight against fraudulent and abusive recruitment practices, forced…Read more…
Why are slaves being arrested while traffickers are just fined?
The Government has this morning released details of a month-old crackdown on alleged illegal working in nail bars, part of the year old Operation Magnify. The actual operation took place at the end of last month, and resulted in 97 people being held, a…Read more…
Early UK ratification of ILO Forced Labour Protocol is a major step forward
This lunchtime, I’m taking part with other trade unionists, CBI representatives and ILO Director General Guy Ryder at the ratification of the International Labour Organisation’s 2014 Forced Labour Protocol, a major step forward in the eradication of modern slavery, trafficking and other…Read more…
Corporate Responses to Modern Slavery
Today saw the publication of a report which seeks to give a snapshot of company perceptions and current responses to modern slavery. This report is the product of collaborative work between the Ethical Trading Initiative and the Ashridge Centre for Business and Sustainability at Hult International…Read more…
Consultation on Modern Slavery Act
In the last days of the coalition Government the Modern Slavery Bill became law. As I reported in my blog, at the time, the Government was consulting on the reporting requirements for businesses in relation to the Transparency in Supply Chain clause. T…Read more…
Modern Slavery Act
So the Modern Slavery Bill has finally become the Modern Slavery Act. Unfortunately however its inadequacies flagged-up in my blog of 25 February were not addressed. On the very same day following a debate in the Lords my colleague Owen Tudor was able to report that the Government was defeated on…Read more…
Modern Slavery Bill: take action on Monday
The TUC is working with a range of corporate accountability and anti-slavery campaign groups and NGOs, including the Ethical Trading Initiative, to strengthen the Modern Slavery Bill, which is now…Read more…
The invisible role of trade unions in the fight against slavery
On Saturday the Home Office released a new strategy for combating modern slavery or forced labour in Britain and abroad. We’re still digesting it, because, surprisingly, we weren’t…Read more…