Preventing exploitation in supply chains

Nov 2020

The issue

Companies need to develop and implement better processes for finding, fixing, and preventing modern slavery in their supply chains.

The issue

Companies need to develop and implement better processes for finding, fixing, and preventing modern slavery in their supply chains.

Engagement type Collaborative

Our engagement

We are participating in the “Find it, Fix it, Prevent it” initiative on modern slavery. The UK hospitality sector is the first focus area of the campaign, which got under way in late 2020.

As part of this initiative, we are leading the engagement with the UK business, of a globally branded fast-food chain regarding their suppliers’ oversight of modern slavery. When we first started engaging with this company two years ago, they acknowledged that the extent of its suppliers’ due diligence was limited and had been relying on a collaborative platform for data on supply chains and were focused on tier 1 suppliers.

The outcome

Over the past two years, the company has made significant progress on its sustainability strategy and governance, including rolling out training on modern slavery and conducting on-site audits for all their food suppliers. This year the company will be continuing efforts to include non-food suppliers in the program and expand their 'speak up line' which is currently not available to franchises', nor suppliers', employees. It will also be conducting an annual human and labour rights risk identification audit. The company committed to improve disclosure on these topics in future iterations of its modern slavery statement. We will continue to engage with the company on these issues.