Lunch and Learn: Modern Slavery

Modern Slavery, defined as the ‘severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain’ (antislavery.org), is an enduring challenge for governments across the globe. Despite countries like the UK who have legislated the Modern Slavery Act (2015), which demands increased transparency and accountability on behalf of businesses to ensure their products, services and supply-chains are ethical, protecting the rights of workers.

The practicalities of enforcing such legislation remains difficult, allowing harmful practices to persist – with recent headlines focussing on the unethical practices of online fast fashion giants here in the UK. Joined by Dr Colin Provost, we break down what modern slavery is, how policymakers have previously tried to eradicate such unethical business practices and how impactful such legislation is in eliminating modern slavery, as well as what lies ahead in the regulation of modern slavery practices amidst Covid-19.