Home secretary attacks 'modern slavery' at GLA initiative launch
17 October 2013
Home Secretary Theresa May launched a new protocol between suppliers, retailers and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) to share information on labour abuse yesterday.
Thu, 17 Oct 2013
Home Secretary Theresa May launched a new protocol between suppliers, retailers and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) to share information on labour abuse yesterday.
May (pictured left on BBC's 'Question Time' this month) told the crowd of retailers and labour suppliers: “It is a vital step in tackling modern slavery in the supply chain. It involves trading in people’s lives, keeping people in servitude. We all have to work together.”
The GLA’s Retailer/Supplier Protocol helps organisations in the supply chain, including those not in GLA-monitored sectors, share information.
Andrew Opie, director of food & sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, tells recruiter.co.uk: “The great thing about this is it extends it beyond the direct retailer supply chain and into suppliers, then suppliers to suppliers, where it’s more complex. That has to help bring more intelligence into the pot for the GLA to use.”
Opie adds that retailers examining products have the opportunity to look at staff and how they are treated, and that this can help tip the GLA off to potential abuse.
The event at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation was attended by a number of large super market chains, including Marks & Spencer, ASDA, Morrison, Lidl and the Co-op.
May also brought attention to the government’s Modern Slavery Bill, which will be scrutinised by parliament in the New Year. It includes an order banning anyone convicted of trafficking from becoming a gangmaster.
A GLA spokesperson notes that after Wednesday’s raid, which saw nine people arrested and three recruiters’ Gangmasters licences revoked, all of the retailers involved in the supply chain were informed.
Home Secretary Theresa May launched a new protocol between suppliers, retailers and the Gangmasters Licensing Authority (GLA) to share information on labour abuse yesterday.
May (pictured left on BBC's 'Question Time' this month) told the crowd of retailers and labour suppliers: “It is a vital step in tackling modern slavery in the supply chain. It involves trading in people’s lives, keeping people in servitude. We all have to work together.”
The GLA’s Retailer/Supplier Protocol helps organisations in the supply chain, including those not in GLA-monitored sectors, share information.
Andrew Opie, director of food & sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, tells recruiter.co.uk: “The great thing about this is it extends it beyond the direct retailer supply chain and into suppliers, then suppliers to suppliers, where it’s more complex. That has to help bring more intelligence into the pot for the GLA to use.”
Opie adds that retailers examining products have the opportunity to look at staff and how they are treated, and that this can help tip the GLA off to potential abuse.
The event at the Recruitment & Employment Confederation was attended by a number of large super market chains, including Marks & Spencer, ASDA, Morrison, Lidl and the Co-op.
May also brought attention to the government’s Modern Slavery Bill, which will be scrutinised by parliament in the New Year. It includes an order banning anyone convicted of trafficking from becoming a gangmaster.
A GLA spokesperson notes that after Wednesday’s raid, which saw nine people arrested and three recruiters’ Gangmasters licences revoked, all of the retailers involved in the supply chain were informed.
