TUC backs Labour’s corporate human rights plan

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The plan, announced in a written statement by Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds, will introduce a mandatory human rights due diligence regime for big companies, saying the government “will not countenance exploitation in the supply chains that serve the UK market.”

TUC general secretary Paul Nowak backed the proposal, saying: “It’s great that the government will hold businesses legally accountable for what happens in their domestic and international supply chains, something that unions have long campaigned for.

“For too long, some businesses have benefited from exploitative practices in their operations and supply chains at home and abroad, including poverty pay, unsafe working conditions, discrimination and union-busting.

“The new law will raise the bar for labour practices and help ensure respect for all human rights, making sure good businesses are not undercut by the bad.

“The government should go further by extending the new rules to all businesses, including those supplying to our public sector.”

Ellen Kettell, of workers’ rights organisation Labour Behind the Label, said: “The UK government has finally acknowledged that voluntary initiatives are not enough and we cannot rely on companies to mark their own homework. 

“This is the result of a years-long campaign co-ordinated by an amazing network of organisations and supporters, all calling for one thing — people and planet should be free from corporate harms.”

Ms Kettel added, however, that independent trade unions must be engaged in the process. She expressed concern at “the lack of consideration for environmental harms in today’s statement,” calling it “a fundamental flaw of the government’s announcement [that] should be addressed immediately.” 

Mr Reynolds added that the government had “found the UK’s current framework for preventing forced labour to be fragmented and overly reliant on voluntary action and reporting measures. 

“We will legislate to introduce a mandatory human rights due diligence regime across the UK for services and in Great Britain for goods. 

“Only the largest businesses, with the capability and leverage to manage these risks within their supply chains, will be in scope,” he stressed. This means firms with a turnover of over £350 million. 

“These businesses will be required to identify, assess and address risks of human rights abuses and labour exploitation within their operations and supply chains.”

Mr Reynolds said ministers would take powers “to remove goods made with forced labour from the Great Britain market.”

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