Recommendation 21

HM Government Not Addressed

The UK was the first country in the world to require businesses to report on the steps they have taken to tackle modern slavery in their operations and global supply chains. The landmark ‘Transparency in Supply Chains’ provision in the Modern Slavery Act has driven a change in business culture and helped to put modern slavery risks on the international agenda. The Home Secretary is required to review the turnover threshold for businesses that are required to provide Modern Slavery Statements every five years. In September 2020, the Government published a review of the turnover threshold as part of its response to the Transparency in Supply Chains consultation. It was determined that the current turnover threshold remained appropriate. In carrying out that review, the Government took into account the Independent Review of the Modern Slavery Act, which advised that the Government should focus on improving compliance, quality and enforcement of obligations at the current threshold. The review considered views from the broad range of stakeholders who had responded to the Transparency in Supply Chains consultation. It is open to any business with a turnover lower than the statutory threshold to publish voluntarily a modern slavery statement, and we encourage them to do so. But we do not have plans to reduce the current threshold.