A
BILL
TO
Require retailers and manufacturers in the UK to make annual statements of
measures taken by them to eradicate slavery and human trafficking and
exploitation from their direct supply chains; to require large retailers and
manufacturers to provide customers with information about measures taken
by them to eliminate slavery and human trafficking and exploitation; to
provide victims of slavery with necessary protections and rights; and for
connected purposes.
Be it enacted by the Queen’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and
consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present
Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:—
(1)
Every retailer and manufacturer operating in the United Kingdom and having
annual worldwide gross receipts exceeding £100,000,000 shall disclose, as set
5forth in section 2, its efforts to eradicate slavery and human trafficking and
exploitation from its direct supply chains for tangible goods offered for sale.
(2) In this Act—
“manufacturer” means a business entity with manufacturing as
itsprincipal business activity;
10“retailer” means a business entity with retail trade as its principal business
activity.
(1) The disclosure described in section 1 shall be—
(a) set out in the retailer’s or manufacturer’s annual report, and
(b) 15posted on the retailer’s or manufacturer’s internet website,
and a conspicuous and easily understood link to the required information shall
be placed on the business homepage.
Eradication of Slavery (UK Company Supply Chains) BillPage 2
(2)
If the retailer or manufacturer does not have an internet website, consumers
shall be provided with the written disclosure within 30 days of the retailer or
manufacturer receiving a written request for the disclosure from a consumer.
(3)
The disclosure described in section 1 shall disclose to what extent, if any, the
5retailer or manufacturer does each of the following—
(a)
Engages in verification of product supply chains to evaluate and
address risks of slavery and human trafficking and exploitation. The
disclosure shall specify if the verification was not conducted by a
person independent of the organisation being verified.
(b)
10Conducts audits of suppliers to evaluate supplier compliance with
company standards for slavery and human trafficking and exploitation
in supply chains. The disclosure shall specify if the verification was not
an independent, unannounced audit.
(c)
Requires direct suppliers to certify that materials incorporated into the
15product comply with the laws regarding slavery and human trafficking
and exploitation of the country or countries in which they are doing
business.
(d)
Maintains internal accountability standards and procedures for
employees or contractors failing to meet company standards regarding
20slavery and human trafficking and exploitation.
(e)
Provides company employees and management who have direct
responsibility for supply chain management with training on slavery
and human trafficking and exploitation, with particular respect to
mitigating risks within the supply chains of products.
Retailers and manufacturers who uncover slavery and human trafficking and
exploitation in their supply chains shall take action necessary and appropriate
to assist people who have been victims and shall report on that action in their
30annual reports.
(1)
This Act may be cited as the Eradication of Slavery (UK Company Supply
Chains) Act 2012.
(2) This Act comes into force two months after Royal Assent.
(3) 35This Act extends to England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.