A new opinion piece by Lara Strangways, Senior Legal Adviser and Business & Human Rights Lead at Global Rights Compliance (GRC), has been published in The Law Society Gazette.
In the article, “The UK was once an anti-slavery champion – today we’re falling behind”, Lara reflects on the UK’s historical leadership in combating slavery and contrasts it with the country’s current approach to addressing modern slavery and forced labour in global supply chains.
It highlights growing concerns that the UK risks becoming a destination for goods linked to forced labour, particularly in relation to state-imposed forced labour affecting Uyghur and other minority populations in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region.
Drawing on GRC’s recent investigative work, the article underscores significant gaps in the UK’s existing legal framework, notably the limitations of corporate self-reporting under the Modern Slavery Act — and how these shortcomings leave both consumers and businesses exposed. It also points to emerging evidence suggesting increasing flows of goods linked to forced labour entering the UK market.
The commentary contrasts the UK’s current approach with more robust legislative developments in other jurisdictions, including import restrictions and due diligence frameworks adopted by international partners.
It concludes with a call for urgent reform, including the introduction of stronger due diligence obligations and measures to prevent goods produced with forced labour from entering the UK market, in order to ensure meaningful accountability and uphold the UK’s commitment to human rights.
Read the full article.