The Modern Slavery (Amendment) Bill is published
The Modern Slavery (Amendment) Bill recently started its journey through Parliament. Find out more.
25 June 2021
The Modern Slavery (Amendment) Bill recently started its journey through Parliament.
The Bill seeks to:
- make it a criminal offence to include information in a modern slavery statement that is false or materially incomplete - this will apply to the relevant person ‘responsible’ for the statement, which would include directors of companies, partners in partnerships or members of LLPs;
- make it a criminal offence where an in-scope organisation continues to source from suppliers or sub-suppliers that fail to demonstrate minimum standards of transparency after having been issued a formal warning by the Independent Anti-slavery Commissioner (the ability to issue such warnings being a proposed new power of the Commissioner); and
- extend transparency by requiring in-scope organisations to:
- publish and verify information about the country of origin of sourcing inputs in its supply chain,
- arrange for credible external inspections, external audits, and unannounced external spot-checks, and
- report on the use of employment agents acting on behalf of an overseas government.
Both offences would come with a sentence following conviction of a fine amounting to 4% of the global turnover of the in-scope organisation, up to a maximum of £20 million. An individual defendant can be sentenced to up to 2 years imprisonment for the offence of including false or incomplete information.
The Bill is a Private Members Bill and will not become law unless sufficient time is allocated to its passage through Parliament. Few Private Member Bills make it through for that reason however, as the government has indicated its commitment to improving the quality of modern slavery reporting, the Bill could have more chance than most. The Bill is likely to be amended as it is scrutinised and debated by Parliament. We shall keep you informed of the Bill’s progress.
Discover more
Modern Slavery Act compliance
Related expertise
You may be interested in...
13 December 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Martyn’s Law: Paving the way for enhanced security measures across UK venues and events
13 December 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Employment Rights Bill: Will it cost more to outsource public services and back-office functions?
13 December 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
A call to councils: Implementing effective tree management to prevent future tragedies
13 December 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Navigating workplace sexual harassment laws during the festive season
13 December 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Navigating the new 'Failure to Prevent Fraud' Offence: What organisations need to know
12 December 2024
Press Release
Comments on new MHRA clinical trial regulations
12 December 2024
Press Release
Comments on the National Planning Policy Framework reform
10 December 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
UK consumer law: What is changing and how might it affect retailers?
10 December 2024
Opinion
Revolutionising the Workforce: Impact of Get Britain Working White Paper
10 December 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
The latest take on vicarious liability for kinship / connected person foster care
06 December 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Supreme Court shines a light on collective agreements
06 December 2024
Press Release
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ advises Celtic Freeport as it opens for business
05 December 2024
Press Release
Comments on the Prime Minister’s ‘Plan for Change’ speech
02 December 2024
Press Release
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ advises Oxford City Council on Barton Park affordable housing deal
29 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ - Public matters newsletter
Public matters: November 2024
26 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
The housing benefit subsidy deficit: Strategies for funding temporary accommodation
26 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
What’s in a name: ESG principles and UK local authorities
25 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Technology trends in the food and drink sector: Consumer targeting technologies
25 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
How the Data (Use and Access) Bill will impact the public sector
22 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Know your dispute resolution clauses: Key take-aways from Kajima v Children’s Ark and Lancashire Schools v Lendlease
20 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Martyn's Law: A closer look at the UK's new proposed anti-terror measures
20 November 2024
Opinion
Law Commission initial consultation published on reforming Part 2 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954
15 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Building an inclusive workplace: strategies for attracting and retaining disabled talent
14 November 2024
Press Release
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ advises leading technology-driven compliance specialist on its continued market consolidation with two further acquisitions
13 November 2024
Press Release
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ advises Clean Power Hydrogen on global IP licence agreement
08 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ - Maternity services
MNSI annual report 2023/24: Key insights and future ambitions for maternity safety
08 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Reform of Gambling Regulation in Ireland
01 November 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
The EU Cyber Resilience Act (CRA)
01 November 2024
Published Article - DORA
Digital Operational Resilience Act: Key considerations ahead of the 17 January 2025 compliance deadline
31 October 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ - Public matters newsletter
Public matters: October 2024
31 October 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
CJEU confirms that copyright law is the same for all claimants
31 October 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
EasyGroup proceedings defeated by jurisdictional challenge
29 October 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
New amendments to the Civil Procedure Rules and their impact
25 October 2024
Press Release
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ sponsors public sector think tank on new report
24 October 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Supreme Court clarifies public authority liability: Police duty of care in negligence cases
22 October 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ - Employment Rights Bill
Labour’s employment law reforms: Employment Rights Bill unveiled
18 October 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ - Building Safety Act
The Building Safety Act 2022: Managing risks for private equity investors and acquirers
15 October 2024
Press Release
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ to provide legal services to public bodies across UK after appointment on inaugural YPO framework
14 October 2024
°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê×ÊÁÏ
Balancing acts: Navigating the complex risks in adult social care provision
13 October 2024