The UK government is urged to strengthen enforcement against worker exploitation, with MPs advocating for mandatory disclosures on modern slavery in supply chains. A report from the business and trade select committee emphasizes the urgency of tightening the Modern Slavery Act, especially as global standards tighten. They criticized firms like Shein for insufficiently addressing supply chain issues tied to forced labor in China. The committee also calls for amendments to the employment rights bill to protect against zero-hour contracts and abusive employment practices, pushing for strategic legislation that benefits ethical businesses over unscrupulous ones.
The government must close loopholes that enable firms exploiting workers to undercut British businesses or risk the UK becoming a dumping ground for goods made in poor conditions.
Action to toughen up the Modern Slavery Act is now a pressing need as Europe and the US are getting tougher on blocking the import of goods made under poor conditions.
Liam Byrne, the committee chair, warned that the UK was in peril of becoming a dumping ground, operating a second-class regime to safeguard our markets against forced labour.
We want ministers to make some strategic changes to the employment rights bill to ensure Britain's best firms can't be undercut by rogue companies exploiting workers.
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