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View full libraryA Modern Slavery Policy sets out an organisation's commitment to preventing modern slavery, forced labour, human trafficking and exploitation within its workforce and supply chain. It establishes practical responsibilities and controls for identifying, preventing, reporting and responding to modern slavery risks.
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If you are establishing clear ethical standards, these ethical policy templates give you a practical set of policies covering expectations, communication, concerns, investigation and response.
This template brings together the key information, sections and considerations you need to create a clear, comprehensive and professional HR document. Preview the document below.
1 Overview
1.1 [Company Name] is committed to preventing modern slavery, human trafficking, forced labour and other forms of exploitation within our business and supply chain.
1.2 We recognise our responsibility to respect human rights and to take reasonable and proportionate steps to identify, prevent and address modern slavery risks associated with our operations, workforce, suppliers and business relationships.
1.3 The Company has zero tolerance for modern slavery and will not knowingly support, facilitate or engage with practices involving forced labour, servitude, human trafficking or exploitation.
2 Scope
2.1 This policy applies to all employees, workers, contractors, agency workers, apprentices, consultants and other individuals working for or on behalf of [Company Name].
2.2 It also applies to our suppliers, contractors, subcontractors and other business partners where the Company's activities or relationships may create or contribute to modern slavery risks.
3 General principles
3.1 The Company will:
4 What is modern slavery?
4.1 Modern slavery is an umbrella term covering situations where a person is exploited and cannot refuse or leave their situation because of threats, coercion, deception or other forms of control.
Modern slavery can include forced labour, servitude, slavery and human trafficking. It can occur in
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Modern slavery is not limited to extreme or obvious cases of exploitation. Forced labour, trafficking and other forms of exploitation can occur within legitimate businesses and supply chains, making it important for employers to understand where risks may arise and how concerns should be dealt with. This Modern Slavery Policy gives employers a practical framework for setting expectations and managing those risks.
The policy establishes a zero-tolerance approach to modern slavery and explains the standards expected across the organisation. It covers employees, workers, agency staff, contractors and relevant business partners rather than treating modern slavery solely as a procurement issue.
The policy helps managers and employees understand some of the potential indicators of forced labour and exploitation, while making clear that individuals do not need to prove that modern slavery has occurred before raising a genuine concern.
Modern slavery risks can arise beyond an organisation's direct workforce. The template therefore includes proportionate supplier due diligence, supplier expectations and escalation arrangements, allowing the organisation to apply greater scrutiny where the level of risk warrants it.
The policy establishes a route for reporting concerns and sets out how the organisation should respond, including protecting individuals from retaliation and considering external assistance where there may be an immediate risk to someone's safety.
Not every organisation will face the same modern slavery risks. The policy is designed to be adapted to the organisation's size, sector, workforce and supply chain, with regular review to reflect changes in operations, legislation, guidance and identified risks.
Related HR resources and workflow
Explore the HR resources that may be relevant before and / or after using the Modern slavery policy, helping you understand the wider process, maintain appropriate documentation and follow a consistent approach.
The Modern Slavery Risk Assessment Template provides a structured way for employers to identify, assess and manage the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking within their own operations and supply chains.
Our Modern Slavery Policy Statement empowers ethical practices, showcasing dedication to responsible conduct and accountability.
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A Modern Slavery Policy explains an organisation's commitment to preventing slavery, forced labour, human trafficking and exploitation. It sets out responsibilities, reporting arrangements and controls for managing risks within the workforce and, where relevant, the supply chain.
There is not a universal statutory requirement for every employer to have a standalone Modern Slavery Policy. However, organisations should consider the risks of modern slavery within their operations and supply chains. Certain commercial organisations with a total turnover of at least £36 million are subject to specific transparency requirements under section 54 of the Modern Slavery Act 2015. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/transparency-in-supply-chains-a-practical-guide
Potential indicators can include threats or intimidation, restricted movement, withholding identity documents, debt bondage, excessive working hours, poor living conditions, unusual deductions from pay or a person appearing unable to leave their employment or situation freely. These indicators do not necessarily prove modern slavery but should be taken seriously.
The policy should identify a clear internal reporting route, such as HR, a line manager, senior manager or whistleblowing contact. Employees should be encouraged to raise genuine concerns even where they cannot establish that modern slavery has definitely occurred.
Yes. Modern slavery risks can occur at different levels of a supply chain, including through contractors, labour providers, subcontractors and other business partners. The appropriate level of supplier due diligence will depend on the organisation's circumstances and identified risk.
HRDocBox combines practical HR experience with employment compliance knowledge to create policies that can be used in real workplaces. This template goes beyond a generic statement of intent by covering workforce risks, supply chain due diligence, reporting, responsibilities and the practical response to concerns.
The policy gave us a useful basis for keeping our approach consistent. It helped turn something we had been handling informally into a clearer written arrangement. The main expectations were easy to find without wading through unnecessary wording.
How this content is developed and reviewed
The Modern slavery policy template is developed using a practical HR methodology that considers current UK employment legislation, ACAS guidance, CIPD good practice and the real-world HR process it supports. Templates and supporting information are regularly reviewed and updated, with additional reviews triggered by significant changes to legislation, guidance or established HR practice, helping ensure each document remains practical, relevant and suitable for UK employers.
Darryl Horn, Chartered HR Director
Darryl is a Chartered HR professional with over 25 years' experience in senior HR and employee relations roles.
He has extensive practical experience of managing ethical HR processes and founded hrdocbox to provide businesses with practical, professionally developed HR resources grounded in UK employment law and best practice.
HRDocBox has been creating practical UK HR documents since 2009.
"Darryl provides support and advice with excellent judgement, and has a strong understanding of people, policies and UK employment legislation."
"He is someone I trust; consistent, dependable, and committed to doing things properly."
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