16 hr focus
The Modern Slavery Act: what does it mean for your business?
What is the Modern Slavery Act (MSA) and how do you know if your organisation needs to take action? Charlotte Mortlock, an employment specialist at Penningtons Manches LLP‘s Reading office, has the answers
The MSA is now in force and will require almost immediate action by some organisations. It aims to combat crimes of slavery and human trafficking by creating criminal offences and powers of enforcement. Many of us would be forgiven for thinking that this is a wider problem and not something UK businesses can influence. The Government disagrees.
The MSA says that businesses have a role to play. However, the mandatory obligations only affect large commercial organisations with a global turnover above £36 million. Such organisations are now required to publish an annual statement about modern slavery for each financial year which ends on or after March 31, 2016.
The detail of the statement isn‘t set in stone; it is up to you to
decide what it says. However, it should disclose what steps your organisation has taken to ensure that human trafficking is not taking place within the business. In theory, the statement could say that the organisation has taken no such steps, but clearly that wouldn‘t be advisable from a reputational point of view.
It‘s one thing for an organisation to consider whether such crimes exist within their own business, but the obligation extends to comment upon your supply chains too. The concept of a supply chain is broad – it is anything which enables the organisation to provide the service to its end user, be that by outsourcing or subcontracting eg cleaning or catering services. Organisations need to consider how they go about conducting the necessary due diligence in their supply chain; standard terms could be introduced with suppliers to ensure they are aware of your organisation‘s stance on modern slavery.
With reputation in mind, it is also worth considering implementing a policy on the MSA which all staff are aware of. If you have trade
Sunseeker to recruit 225 new staff
Sunseeker International has announced that it is looking to recruit 225 new, skilled staff – an increase on its original plan for 100 new employees – to support the introduction of several new models planned for 2016.
The new roles will be based at its manufacturing operations in Dorset, covering construction trades including carpentry, plumbing and electrical, boat building, plus engineering trades including mechanical engineering and composites.
Sunseeker‘s CEO Phil Popham said: ”We have a clear and robust business plan to invest in
long-term growth and sustainable success. Our forward order book for 2016 and beyond is looking very strong, currently up 55% over the same period last year.
”Expanding our highly-skilled workforce is a key part of our planned investment, and with the introduction of a number of new boat lines in 2016 we are able
to recruit 225 new skilled staff to support future growth. This recruitment drive is underway and will conclude in the first half of the year, bringing our total employee number to around 2,150.”
Details:
www.sunseeker.com/recruitment
Left: The 131 Yacht launched at the 2016 London Boat Show in January. At 131 feet (40 metres) it was the largest model ever to make its debut in London
unions in place, they may need to be consulted about such a policy. Staff should also be trained on the subject as part of the organisation‘s general corporate social responsibility and to assist in implementing the policy. A dedicated individual from management should be responsible for ensuring compliance with the policy and it should be clearly communicated to all staff who this individual is.
Clearly a moral obligation exists in relation to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking. All organisations, large and small, can play their part in ensuring it does not exist within their organisation, whether the obligations under the MSA apply to their business or not.
Details: Charlotte Mortlock 0118-9822640
charlotte.mortlock@
penningtons.co.uk www.penningtons.co.uk
www.businessmag.co.uk
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – FEBRUARY 2016
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