Definition
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 is a UK law designed to combat modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour, and servitude. It consolidates previous offences and establishes clear responsibilities for organizations to identify and prevent exploitation within their operations and supply chains.
The Act applies to all businesses operating in the UK with an annual turnover of £36 million or more, requiring them to publish an annual Modern Slavery Statement outlining the steps taken to ensure slavery and human trafficking are not taking place in their business or supply chain.
Key Provisions of the Modern Slavery Act 2015
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Transparency in Supply Chains:
Large organizations must disclose actions taken to prevent modern slavery across their supply chains. -
Annual Modern Slavery Statement:
Companies must publish a statement approved by their board and signed by a senior executive, made publicly available on their website. -
Criminal Offences and Penalties:
Individuals and businesses found guilty of modern slavery offences face significant penalties, including imprisonment and unlimited fines. -
Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner:
Established to promote best practices and monitor the effectiveness of measures against slavery and trafficking.
Why It Matters
The Act enforces corporate accountability and ethical transparency in business practices. Failure to comply can result in legal penalties, reputational damage, and loss of investor confidence.
Beyond legal compliance, demonstrating adherence to the Modern Slavery Act signals a company’s commitment to human rights, ESG standards, and ethical governance.
Organizational Responsibilities
To comply with the Modern Slavery Act, companies must:
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Conduct supplier due diligence and risk assessments.
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Implement and enforce anti-slavery and human trafficking policies.
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Provide employee training on ethical sourcing and reporting.
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Publish and update their Modern Slavery Statement annually.
How VComply Helps
VComply simplifies compliance with the Modern Slavery Act 2015 by automating and centralizing key obligations:
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Track and manage supplier compliance and ethical certifications.
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Automate annual Modern Slavery Statement reviews and approvals.
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Distribute and monitor anti-slavery policies and employee training.
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Maintain an audit trail for board approvals and public disclosures.
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Monitor supplier risk and align with broader ESG frameworks.
With VComply, organizations ensure full visibility, accountability, and traceability across their entire supply chain — reducing the risk of non-compliance and strengthening ethical governance.