BSI set to “challenge modern slavery” through “pioneering standard”

Organisations are facing increased scrutiny over supply chain issues, their commitment to ensuring the well-being of people and planet and Environmental, Social and Governance reporting. With this in mind, the BSI’s modern slavery standard (BS 25700) provides clear guidance for them to help identify the risks – and the potential victims – of modern slavery, while also offering pragmatic advice on how to address the issue.

In a pioneering move, the new standard will be available to all on an open-access basis as a demonstration of the BSI’s commitment to seeing modern slavery abolished. The standard can be used by international and UK organisations of all sizes, providing as it does key guidance on preventative measures, identifying, analysing and evaluating exposure risks, approaches to address identified risks, remedying modern slavery practices and reporting mechanisms.

Modern slavery describes a range of exploitative practices, including forced, compulsory and child labour, debt bondage and human trafficking. Rights and duties concerning modern slavery exist in UK legislation, notably through the Modern Slavery Act 2015, as well as through international frameworks including those of the United Nations and the International Labour Organisation.

Such criminal practice affected 49.6 million people worldwide in 2021, according to estimates from Walk Free, the International Labour Organisation and the International Organisation for Migration, with 27.6 million people in forced labour. Criminals profiting from this make approximately US$150 billion annually from the proceeds of these crimes.

In the UK, the number of potential victims of modern slavery referred to the National Referral Mechanism has risen from 2,340 in 2014 to more than 12,700 in 2021, with the true number of victims likely to be far higher as the number continues to climb. Close to 8,000 individuals were referred from January to June 2022 alone.

Greater risks

Susan Taylor Martin, CEO at the BSI, said: “Global disruptions such as COVID-19 and the return of war in Europe have created greater risks of modern slavery than those faced in 2015 when the Modern Slavery Act was enacted. Far more can be done to bridge the gap between policy and practice. The BSI is committed to helping organisations understand what they can do in practical terms to eradicate this corrupt and criminal behaviour, which continues to plague the global economy.”

Scott Steedman, director-general for standards at the BSI, added: “Too many organisations, large and small, may not fully understand the prevalence and locations of modern slavery in their supply chains. They may also lack knowledge on how to protect themselves from its risks. With this new National Standard, the BSI is providing guidance to help organisations act decisively to understand and identify risks and eradicate modern slavery.”

The BSI plays a vital role in helping businesses to adopt Best Practice frameworks aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including supporting organisations in understanding and managing the risks of modern slavery. It aims to bridge the gap between policy and practice with a lack of compliance, inadequate modern slavery statements and gaps between what organisations say and do on the issue undermining existing requirements laid out in the Modern Slavery Act 2015.

In addition, whereas existing legislation requires organisations with an annual turnover of £36 million or more to report on modern slavery, as stated BS 25700 can be used by organisations of any size or type. This is critical given that SMEs comprise 99% of businesses and three-fifths of employment here in the UK.

Shirley Goodrick, Slave-Free Alliance specialist, concluded: “Slave-Free Alliance welcomes BSI’s modern slavery standard as the first to provide guidance suitable for all sectors. Organisations of all sizes can take proportionate and meaningful steps to understand, prevent and address modern slavery in their operations and supply chains. Alignment with this standard will increase a given organisation’s resilience to modern slavery and labour exploitation.’’  

In essence, BS 25700 Organisational Responses to Modern Slavery is a “pioneering” British Standard that provides guidance on how organisations can take practical steps to eradicate modern slavery through prevention, identification, response, remediation, mitigation and reporting.