Anti-Slavery Day on 18 October 2023 saw the launch of a new initiative for the cleaning, FM and other sectors – Stamp Out Slavery (SOS).
Established by Callum MacLeod, owner of a thriving FM company and Ben Douglas-Jones, a leading human rights lawyer and King’s Counsel, the company is working to identify and eradicate modern slavery in the workplace.
It’s estimated that there are over 100,000 people in the UK living in modern slavery. SOS is taking a three-pronged approach to tackling this terrible situation as it manifests in cleaning, soft services, security, hospitality, construction and social care.
The first is to work with SMEs looking to stand out by reassuring customers, staff and investors that their labour and other supply chains are free from slavery and exploitation.
The second is to work with employees to raise awareness of potential signs of modern slavery, and how to report it if they or someone they know may be being exploited.
The third is to provide financial support to charities working to support victims of modern slavery or human trafficking, as they are the vanguard.
For 2023-2025, SOS has chosen Bristol-based charity Unseen to be its charity partner, pledging 20% of fee income generated each quarter to support their critical work with victims of exploitation and the cost of maintaining theUK Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline (08000 121 700), the primary route for reporting suspicions and getting help.
The launch took place in the City of London and several notable speakers, including former Independent Anti-Slavery Commissioner Prof Dame Sara Thornton, and former police officer turned consultant to the Human Trafficking Foundation, Phil Brewer, contributed to building understanding of how prevalent modern slavery and human trafficking are in the workplace and business supply chains. In fact, two case studies from different sectors clearly illustrated that, if you think it can’t happen to you, it probably will.
SOS aims to help companies to minimise the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking occurring in their labour supply chains by providing an external review and validation of their human resources practices, procedures and records, and those of their subcontractors.
Companies whose practice is given the all-clear will receive a date-stamped SOS quality mark for use on their website and other collateral. Companies whose practice may need some refinement will be supported with training and signposting to other sources of support, before being reviewed and validated again.
MD Callum MacLeod said: “We are so happy with the positive response to SOS. The launch event exceeded our expectations and we just signed our first client. We set up SOS to put something back into the sector that nurtured us, then realised how many more are at risk of falling foul of modern slavery legislation. The potential to assist companies, employees and charities is enormous and we look forward to rising to the challenge.”
