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An Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy sets out a company's commitment and practical steps to prevent modern slavery in its business operations and supply chains. It's a crucial document that helps organizations comply with the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015 and protect workers from exploitation, forced labor, and trafficking.

The policy typically outlines due diligence processes, risk assessment procedures, and reporting mechanisms for staff to raise concerns. It also establishes clear responsibilities for management, procurement teams, and employees, while detailing how the organization monitors its suppliers and partners to ensure they maintain ethical labor practices aligned with UK legislation.

Your business needs an Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy if it operates in the UK with an annual turnover above £36 million, as required by the Modern Slavery Act 2015. Even smaller organizations benefit from having this policy, especially when working with larger companies that need to verify their supply chain's ethical practices.

The policy becomes essential when expanding operations, entering new supplier relationships, or bidding on public sector contracts. It's particularly valuable when operating in high-risk industries like manufacturing, construction, agriculture, or when sourcing materials from regions with known labor rights issues. Having this policy helps protect your reputation and ensures legal compliance.

• Basic compliance policy: Focuses on meeting minimum Modern Slavery Act requirements, including supplier due diligence and reporting procedures
• Comprehensive supply chain policy: Extends beyond basic compliance to include detailed supplier assessment frameworks and ethical sourcing guidelines
• Industry-specific policy: Tailored for high-risk sectors like construction or agriculture, with specific risk mitigation strategies
• Global operations policy: Addresses international supply chains and cross-border operations, incorporating country-specific requirements
• SME-focused policy: Streamlined version for smaller businesses, emphasizing practical implementation and key compliance elements

• Company Directors and Board Members: Responsible for approving and overseeing the Anti-Slavery Policy, ensuring organizational compliance
• HR Managers: Implement policy requirements, conduct staff training, and manage internal reporting mechanisms
• Procurement Teams: Apply policy guidelines when selecting and monitoring suppliers
• Legal Compliance Officers: Draft and update the policy, ensure it meets current legislation
• Suppliers and Contractors: Must comply with policy requirements and demonstrate ethical labor practices
• All Employees: Required to understand and follow the policy, report concerns through designated channels

• Supply Chain Review: Map your complete supply chain, identifying high-risk areas and suppliers
• Risk Assessment: Document industry-specific risks, operational locations, and procurement practices
• Internal Processes: List existing due diligence procedures, reporting mechanisms, and training programs
• Legal Requirements: Check Modern Slavery Act obligations based on your turnover and operations
• Stakeholder Input: Gather feedback from procurement, HR, and operations teams
• Performance Metrics: Define how you'll measure policy effectiveness and compliance
• Implementation Plan: Outline training schedules, communication strategy, and review periods

• Policy Statement: Clear commitment to preventing modern slavery and human trafficking
• Scope and Application: Details of who the policy applies to, including suppliers and contractors
• Due Diligence Procedures: Specific steps for assessing and managing supply chain risks
• Reporting Mechanisms: Clear procedures for staff to report concerns or violations
• Training Requirements: Outline of mandatory staff awareness and compliance training
• Responsibility Assignment: Named roles accountable for policy implementation
• Enforcement Measures: Consequences for non-compliance and remedial actions
• Review Process: Timeline and procedure for regular policy updates

While both an Anti-Slavery and Human Trafficking Policy and a Compliance and Ethics Policy address organizational conduct, they serve distinct purposes and have different scopes. The Anti-Slavery Policy specifically targets modern slavery risks in supply chains and operations, while a Compliance and Ethics Policy covers broader ethical business conduct and regulatory compliance.

• Focus and Scope: Anti-Slavery policies concentrate on labor exploitation and trafficking risks, while Compliance and Ethics policies cover multiple areas including corruption, fraud, and general business conduct
• Legal Requirements: Anti-Slavery policies are mandatory under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 for larger companies, while Compliance and Ethics policies are generally voluntary but recommended
• Implementation: Anti-Slavery policies require specific supply chain due diligence and reporting mechanisms, whereas Compliance and Ethics policies typically establish broader behavioral standards and internal controls