Detecting and remediating modern slavery in supply chains: a targeted audit approach

This paper investigates modern slavery detection and remediation. Action research has been conducted in the textiles and fashion industry, with the primary engagement involving a multi-billion pound (GBP) turnover company and their modern slavery investigation at a high-risk supplier in South East Asia. This paper responds to calls from the literature to investigate the modern slavery detection process and provides empirical evidence involving collaboration with a large multinational NGO and another of the audited supplier's customers. Findings are presented from a first-hand account of the detection process and suggest that a targeted audit is more likely to identify key indicators of modern slavery. This type of audit includes investigating the end-to-end recruitment process by using a parallel structure of management and worker interviews and documentation review. Evidence is also provided of the company's remediation process, which includes partnering with a local NGO to empower workers and collaboratively develop suppliers.

Automated summary

This research investigates modern slavery detection and remediation, presenting empirical evidence that targeted audits are more likely to identify key indicators, and showing the company's collaborative process in dealing with modern slavery issues.