Buying Fairtrade is one of the simplest ways to make a difference in the fight against modern slavery. It is also something that everyone can play a part in, regardless of age, gender, religion or ethnicity.

The latest data from the UN’s International Labour Organization (ILO), from 2017, shows that there are almost 25 million people in forced labour across the world. That is almost three times the population of Greater London! Almost half of the people exploited by forced labour (16 million), are exploited in the private sector in domestic work, construction or agriculture. Women and girls are disproportionately affected by forced labour, accounting for 58% across most sectors.

Buying Fairtrade makes the supply chain – from the raw material, right through to the its placement in a shop – easy to investigate. This transparency makes it easier than usual to see if there has been labour exploitation at any stage.

The Fairtrade Producer Standards and Fairtrade Trader Standards ensure that all products featuring the Fairtrade logo adhere to strict guidelines to rule out slavery in their supply chains. It requires anyone who buys, sells or processes Fairtrade certified products from the raw material to packaging to comply with these standards. They also encourage producers to identify and respond to modern slavery through self-governing, community-based monitoring on child and/or forced labour.

Buying Fairtrade goods has never been easier. Not only do many supermarkets now stock Fairtrade goods, high street stores are beginning to stock more Fairtrade clothes, bags, jewellery and shoes too.

The Law in the UK on Supply Chains and Modern Slavery

In 2015 the UK Government, as part of its Modern Slavery Bill introduced a ‘Transparency in Supply Chains’ requirement. This means any company with a turnover of £36million or more that operates in the UK must publish an annual statement about what they are doing to prevent and address modern day slavery in their supply chains. This is a good first step, but it has been criticised because there is no easy way to check if all the companies who should be producing a statement have done so, nor is there any penalty for those that don’t.

Ways That You Can Take Action: Using Your Consumer Power to Make a Difference.

• Buy Fairtrade marked products. If your local retailer does not stock Fairtrade products, then ask them too.

• If you are staying in a hotel that does not stock Fairtrade, write it on the review of the hotel or talk to the hospitality team.

• Ask retailers about their supply chain and what they are doing to make sure there is no slavery or trafficking in their supply chains.

• Encourage and sign up your workplace or church to become Fairtrade.

Click here for ways you can pray about the Fairtrade movement.