The news follows the conviction of an extended Lincolnshire family for running a modern slavery ring which kept one of its captives in "truly shocking" conditions for decades.
The Ογ½ΆΦ±²₯’s Green Growth Platform has partnered with the Chichester Chamber of Commerce and Industry, law firm CLT Envirolaw and events provider Muon Events to launch a training workshop for businesses across Sussex to understand their obligations under the Modern Slavery Act.
The Green Growth Platform’s Director, Zoe Osmond, said: “Modern slaves in the UK are often said to be hidden in plain sight. Although no respectable business would choose to be associated with human rights abuses and exploitation, sectors with fragmented supply chains, covering raw material production, manufacturing and site labour, alongside opaque procurement processes and high demand for migrant labour, are especially vulnerable.
“The Modern Slavery Act introduced in March 2015 affects all businesses, requiring them to keep a careful eye on their own employment practices, as well as third parties with whom they have a business relationship. The Act requires every business trading in the UK with over £36m turnover to publish an annual slavery and human trafficking statement on their website showing the steps they have taken to increase transparency within their supply chain.