Ensure British Businesses Are Slavery Free
- by: Walk Free
- recipient: Prime Minister David Cameron
Shopper Stephanie Wilson was shocked to find at the bottom of the bag of her new department store purchase a note with a plea for help from a Chinese factory. The writer Tohnain Emmanuel Njong, a prisoner, said “we are ill-treated and work like slaves for 13 hours every day.”[1]
Slavery is known as the hidden crime. Understanding our connection to modern slavery through the products and services we buy is not easy. Consider that over 130 goods from more than 70 countries are produced with forced labour.[2] Shouldn’t large companies be required to take action to ensure that as consumers we are contributing to the end of modern slavery, not supporting it?
We rely on the brands we know and love but there is no legal requirement for any company in the UK to do everything possible to show that they take seriously their responsibilities to respect workers’ freedom from slavery.
Isn’t it about time that changed? The Modern Slavery Bill provides a unique opportunity for the UK to be a world leader by introducing new legislation to ensure that large companies can be held to account. These changes are supported by business[3] and parliamentarians.[4]
Call on the UK’s Prime Minister to use the opportunity of the Modern Slavery Bill to introduce legislation so that UK companies lead the way in the fight against modern slavery. We rely on the brands we know and love but there is no legal requirement for any company in the UK to do everything possible to show that they take seriously their responsibilities to respect workers’ freedom from slavery.
Isn’t it about time that changed? The Modern Slavery Bill provides a unique opportunity for the UK to be a world leader by introducing new legislation to ensure that large companies can be held to account. These changes are supported by business[3] and parliamentarians.[4]
1. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10798883/New-York-shopper-finds-note-made-by-Chinese-prisoner.html ↩ 2. http://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/pdf/2013TVPRA_Infographic.pdf ↩ 3. http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/let’s-end-modern-slavery and http://www.brc.org.uk/brc_news_detail.asp?id=2609&kCat=&kData=1 ↩ 4. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201314/jtselect/jtslavery/166/16608.htm ↩
Slavery is known as the hidden crime. Understanding our connection to modern slavery through the products and services we buy is not easy. Consider that over 130 goods from more than 70 countries are produced with forced labour.[2] Shouldn’t large companies be required to take action to ensure that as consumers we are contributing to the end of modern slavery, not supporting it?
We rely on the brands we know and love but there is no legal requirement for any company in the UK to do everything possible to show that they take seriously their responsibilities to respect workers’ freedom from slavery.
Isn’t it about time that changed? The Modern Slavery Bill provides a unique opportunity for the UK to be a world leader by introducing new legislation to ensure that large companies can be held to account. These changes are supported by business[3] and parliamentarians.[4]
Call on the UK’s Prime Minister to use the opportunity of the Modern Slavery Bill to introduce legislation so that UK companies lead the way in the fight against modern slavery. We rely on the brands we know and love but there is no legal requirement for any company in the UK to do everything possible to show that they take seriously their responsibilities to respect workers’ freedom from slavery.
Isn’t it about time that changed? The Modern Slavery Bill provides a unique opportunity for the UK to be a world leader by introducing new legislation to ensure that large companies can be held to account. These changes are supported by business[3] and parliamentarians.[4]
1. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa/10798883/New-York-shopper-finds-note-made-by-Chinese-prisoner.html ↩ 2. http://www.dol.gov/ilab/reports/pdf/2013TVPRA_Infographic.pdf ↩ 3. http://www.virgin.com/richard-branson/let’s-end-modern-slavery and http://www.brc.org.uk/brc_news_detail.asp?id=2609&kCat=&kData=1 ↩ 4. http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt201314/jtselect/jtslavery/166/16608.htm ↩
Dear David Cameron,
When I buy from British businesses I want to be confident that they are doing everything possible to address modern slavery in supply chains.
You have a unique opportunity to set international standards on corporate action to end modern slavery.
Many UK businesses have expressed their support for legislative measures including Virgin, Unilever and several who, through the British Retail Consortium, support Parliament’s recommendation for legislation, recognising that voluntary measures alone are not sufficient to tackle the problem.
[Your comments here]
I urge you to use the opportunity presented by the Modern Slavery Bill to show your support for legislation directed at companies to address modern slavery in supply chains
Sincerely,
[Your name]
Sign PetitionSign PetitionWhen I buy from British businesses I want to be confident that they are doing everything possible to address modern slavery in supply chains.
You have a unique opportunity to set international standards on corporate action to end modern slavery.
Many UK businesses have expressed their support for legislative measures including Virgin, Unilever and several who, through the British Retail Consortium, support Parliament’s recommendation for legislation, recognising that voluntary measures alone are not sufficient to tackle the problem.
[Your comments here]
I urge you to use the opportunity presented by the Modern Slavery Bill to show your support for legislation directed at companies to address modern slavery in supply chains
Sincerely,
[Your name]
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