United Kingdom: eight leading companies commit to tackling slavery

The first Business Against Slavery Forum was held in London in October. The event brought together the chief executives of eight leading UK companies, including banking groups Barclays and HSBC as well as luxury fashion brand Burberry, Associated British Foods and clothing retailer Primark. This meeting, the first of its kind, was organised by the UK’s Home Office, under the Modern Slavery Act. Its aim is to discuss measures that could be put in place to fight more effectively against slavery, which is plaguing supply chains. The meeting also covered efforts to improve the quality of annual reporting on slavery, published by larger companies operating in the country.  
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The chief executives of eight leading UK firms will meet twice per year at the Business Against Slavery Forum to discuss the issue of modern slavery within supply chains. Chaired by the UK’s Home Secretary Amber Rudd, the first meeting was held on 9 October at Lancaster House in London. In attendance were Mark Cutifani, CEO of the mining group Anglo American; Jeremy Darroch, CEO of the television group Sky; Stuart Gulliver, CEO of HSBC; Marco Gobbetti, CEO of Burberry; Gavin Patterson, CEO of t

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