Rathbones' Archie Pearson: Why should we care about modern slavery?

Affects all sectors of economy

Modern slavery is defined by the UK government as the recruitment, movement, harbouring or receiving of children, women or men through the use of force, coercion, abuse of vulnerability, deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation.

Modern slavery is an illicit trade which affects all sectors of the economy and is therefore considered to be a systemic risk. In 2016, 40.3 million people were held in modern slavery; 24.9 million in forced labour and 15.4 million in forced marriages 1 in 4 victims of modern slavery are children Of 24.9 million in forced labour, 16 million were exploited in the private sector (domestic work, construction, agriculture), 4.8 million in forced sexual exploitation and 4 million in forced labour imposed by state authorities. The Modern Slavery Act (2015) requires all companies abov...