CIOB and Stronger Together launch toolkit to help construction industry tackle modern slavery

A best practice toolkit to help the construction industry tackle modern slavery in its global supply chains has been launched today by the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB) and industry alliance Stronger Together. 

Described by the UK Prime Minister Theresa May as "the great human rights issue of our time", it is estimated that there are over 45 million people subject to modern slavery in the world today. This new guidance from the CIOB and Stronger Together, which can be downloaded for free from www.stronger2gether.org, will help construction businesses shape their response to this problem in their operations and across their global supply chains. The toolkit is part of a specialist, in-depth industry programme supporting construction companies in tackling modern slavery. The programme will provide the construction sector and its clients with practical resources and training based on the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights framework and help businesses to comply with the UK Modern Slavery Act requirements.

Although no respectable business would choose to be associated with human rights abuses and exploitation, they often infiltrate and remain hidden in supply chains. With its fragmented supply chain, covering raw material production, manufacturing and site labour, alongside opaque procurement processes and high demand for migrant labour, the construction sector is highly vulnerable to modern slavery. 

The programme follows on from a CIOB report launched in July 2016, Building a fairer system: tackling modern slavery in construction supply chains, which examined how workers are abused in ways such as forced or bonded labour, late payment, unsanitary living conditions, unfair deductions from wages, withheld passports, loss of freedom of movement, lack of representation, violence, intimidation and physical abuse.

The UK Modern Slavery Act, which came into force in 2015, requires UK organisations with a turnover of more than £36 million to publicly report on how they are dealing with human rights issues in their supply chains. 

Anti-Slavery Commissioner Kevin Hyland OBE said:

“Workers within the construction sector are at risk of abuse and exploitation as traffickers and slave masters target the vulnerable. This is modern slavery, something we cannot shy away from, and I am pleased that construction companies have started to take ownership of this issue.

“I would like to see more companies work together and speak openly about the crime of slavery in supply chains. Challenges must be shared and not hidden, for only then can we protect people and prevent the crime. 

“The collaborative way of working between CIOB and Stronger Together is highly effective. Their decision to provide this resource free of charge is commendable. I hope that those within the construction sector take advantage of this insightful toolkit and ultimately put a stop to the crime of modern slavery within supply chains.”

CIOB Chief Executive Chris Blythe OBE said:

“CIOB’s core values are founded on the principles of ethical business behaviour. Firms that take up and implement this toolkit demonstrate their commitment to ending modern slavery, wherever it may occur. The toolkit and wider programme are there to help raise awareness of modern slavery, identify exploitation and then provide the support for businesses to deal with it responsibly through guidance and good practice.

“Dealing with slavery in our supply chains has two virtues. Firstly, it helps the victims and reduces the scope for there to be further victims in the industry. It stops the industry being exploited by criminals using slavery as their means of making money. 

“Secondly, if we can demonstrate that our supply chain is slavery free, we go a long way to improving the image of the industry. Being seen to be taking action and positively helping the victims of modern slavery is the best way to show that construction is a modern people-centred industry that values all who work in it.”

David Camp, Programme Lead, Stronger Together said:

“We encourage every construction company to be proactive about mitigating the risks of modern slavery in their own operations and supply chain. Commitment is the first step. We will help businesses that want to be leaders in the industry to turn that commitment into action by providing a collaboration platform and support network, bringing together clients, contractors, subcontractors and labour providers, and providing them with pragmatic guidance and resources. 

“This programme follows on from our impactful work with all nine major UK supermarkets in the consumer goods industry to deter, detect and deal appropriately with forced labour, labour trafficking and other hidden labour exploitation.”

Both organisations are now inviting construction companies and clients to become Stronger Together construction sector project sponsors to pioneer this multi-stakeholder initiative into the sector. Project sponsors will:

• Form the Stronger Together construction sector steering group to contribute to programme strategy and provide input to develop new materials and resources;
• Recommend to key staff, primary contractors and the wider supply chain to send delegates to the ‘Tackling Modern Slavery in Construction’ training workshop. 
• Provide free online access on www.stronger2gether.org to a wide range of Stronger Together resources including toolkits, videos and other CPD for use by their business and supply chain;
• Display their logo on the Stronger Together website and printed materials and may refer to themselves as Stronger Together project sponsors; and
• Reference their role in Stronger Together in modern slavery statements and corporate social responsibility reports – particularly that they are making available guidance to their supply chains to deter, detect and deal appropriately with forced labour and labour trafficking.

Please contact [email protected] with any expressions of interest to be project sponsors or to find out more.

[i] 2016 Global Slavery Index: http://www.globalslaveryindex.org/findings/