Business · Companies · 3 hrs ago
Businesses face criticism for treating modern slavery as a reporting exercise
A survey of 800 business leaders across eight countries found that many companies say they are committed to tackling modern slavery.
The survey found 95% had identified violations in the past year, while more than half said they had uncovered cases in the past three years.
Modern slavery affects an estimated 50 million people worldwide, and forced labour generates $236 billion in illegal annual profits in the private economy, according to the International Labour Organisation.
In the UK, businesses say the Modern Slavery Act has raised senior leaders’ attention, but almost three-quarters said it has pushed them towards reporting rather than action.
Companies also struggle to see deep into supply chains: only 22% said they could see their third-party suppliers, and just 39% could show the impact of their assessments.
Most businesses that found problems worked with suppliers to fix them rather than ending contracts.
UK Parliament is due to consider proposed changes to the law, while a new international standard is being developed to help companies manage modern slavery risks.
Research co-created by the British Standards Institution and CIPS found that businesses risk treating modern slavery as a reporting exercise rather than driving meaningful change.
The survey of 800 business leaders across eight countries found that 95% of businesses had identified modern slavery violations in the previous 12 months.
Almost three-quarters of businesses said the Modern Slavery Act had driven a focus on reporting over action.
Only 39% of businesses could show the impact of modern slavery assessments across their value chains, and 22% had visibility of third-party suppliers.
The report was published as Parliament was due to consider proposed changes to the act in the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
- Who
- The British Standards Institution and CIPS produced the report. It surveyed business leaders.
- What
- The report found that businesses often focus on reporting compliance rather than demonstrating action against modern slavery.
- When
- Published on 2 November 2026.
- Where
- The survey covered businesses in eight countries. The proposed legislative changes were due to be considered by the UK Parliament.
- Why
- The report warns that compliance can become a tick-box exercise that fails to bring meaningful change.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
BSI published a draft of the new ISO 37200 standard.
BSI and CIPS published their report based on a survey of 800 business leaders across eight countries.
Parliament was due to consider proposed changes to the Modern Slavery Act in the Immigration and Asylum Bill.
- Survey size
- 800 business leaders across eight countries
- Violations identified
- 95% of businesses reported identifying violations in the previous 12 months
- Assessment impact
- 39% could evidence the impact of modern slavery assessments across their value chains
- Third-party supplier visibility
- 22% of businesses had visibility of third-party suppliers
- Supplier response
- 53% chose to work with suppliers to rectify identified issues rather than terminate contracts
1 source
What people are saying
UK businesses across a range of industries are telling us that stronger, clearer rules would help them do more to find and address exploitation, and would raise the bar for everyone, across all industries.
The challenge is no longer whether businesses are taking action, but whether they can demonstrate that their action is driving real improvements for vulnerable workers.