PRIMARK has been praised by the Bishop of Bristol, the Rt Revd Vivienne Faull, for its “effective human-rights due diligence” in tackling the evils of modern slavery and human trafficking.
The high-street retailer was as vigilant in the UK as it was in China, she said in the House of Lords last week, referring to its decision to prohibit suppliers’ “using and sourcing products, materials, components or labour originating from the [Xinjiang] region. Primark has taken equally decisive action when UK suppliers have been found to be non-compliant.”
The Modern Slavery Act 2015 Committee Report debate on Friday — Bishop Faull sits on the committee — was intended to “take note” and consider immigration legislation, the care sector, and supply chains, in the words of its proposer and the committee’s chair, Baroness O’Grady (Labour).
Bishop Faull was keen to highlight “the Modern Slavery Act in this tenth anniversary week. . . It was world-leading legislation. . . I also rise in the week that the Church commemorates Harriet Monsell, founder of the Anglican Community of St John Baptist, Clewer, a community which, from its 19th-century inception, had as a core vocation the care of female victims of human trafficking.”
She wanted to address statutory guidance and sanctions for non-compliance: “The issue of modern slavery and exploitation in supply chains raises questions about corporate accountability. Although consumer businesses are exposed to a greater level of transparency and accountability, their lesser-known competitors can get away with publishing weak statements, or not publishing at all, in the knowledge that any penalties are unlikely to be forthcoming.”
Bishop Faull suggested that a majority of the public wanted “a new law to prevent exploitative practice . . . and enforce the Modern Slavery Act by imposing financial penalties where companies fail to publish a statement and provide swift access to justice for victims. . .
“The Modern Slavery Act was truly ground-breaking when it was introduced, but it must keep pace with changes to business practices by recognising the increasing complexities of supply chains. . . The law as it stands discourages businesses from doing anything but the bare minimum and leaves the UK’s record on human trafficking, once so powerfully pioneering, now profoundly blemished.”
Lord Bates (Conservative) followed her with an acknowledgment: “The Church has been an essential voice in the campaign to end modern slavery, and many of us will remember the significant role played by the former Bishop of Derby, Alastair Redfern, during the legislation’s passage.” He wanted the Government’s “reassurance on adequate resources” to effect change.
Lord Kempsell (Conservative) described slavery as “a crime which is having a terrible impact on some of the most vulnerable people in the United Kingdom and in communities more widely. . . The impact of modern slavery runs far beyond its immediate victims into the economy, into standards in employment, into health care and into many sectors. . . we must do everything we can to redouble our efforts to eradicate this crime.”
Baroness Hamwee (Liberal Democrat) said that “all exploitation is about money”, and “there are more structural issues . . . data-sharing between departments . . . responsibility and accountability.”
Lord McInnes (Conservative) spoke of how “we have gone from world-leading in this area to identifying significant gaps over a period of time. . . The Act can work to protect people only when the threat of repercussions is effective. ” He saw it as “built on a consensus across all political parties . . . not to be used as a political football. . . The Government need to show leadership in working to uncover and tackle the scourge of modern slavery.”
Responding for the Government, Lord Moraes (Labour) said: “This is a serious report doing two serious things: recommitting this Government — any government — to the fight against modern slavery and, more importantly, to improving that response.” He outlined new measures to “support such broad reform”, and attempts “to address all the areas in the shadows where people are suffering”.
He agreed with a consistent concern raised in the debate: “The care sector has become central because it is our current focus in where we see the exploitation. . . The Government believe everyone deserves to be treated fairly at work and rewarded for their contribution to the economy. . . We are now in the process of creating a fair-work agency through the Employment Rights Bill.”
Baroness O’Grady concluded with appreciation for “a very good debate”, and that “none of us can be confident that the clothes we wear and the food we eat are free of modern slavery, and that makes us complicit. I would add that it makes those of us with some power obligated to do something about it and take action.”
The motion was agreed.
