PROFILE
WITH THE RISE of influential technologies , innovative projects and sophisticated operating procedures , the construction industry is going through a number of transformations which are providing a multitude of advantages for a traditional industry .
However , despite all these developments , the issue of modern slavery in construction is one in which is in urgent need of being addressed by construction companies worldwide . With approximately 35.8 million people subjected to modern slavery , 27 percent are trafficked into labour exploitation . Numbers regarding modern slavery in various industries , from beauty bars and car washes , to construction sites , are rising significantly , alongside low wages , human rights abuses and poor working conditions .
The implementation of the Modern Slavery Act ( 2015 ) in the UK has helped bring this challenging subject to the forefront of supply chain management and responsible sourcing , where construction companies are now looking at their operations more closely . However , such companies frequently adopt a fragmented , multitiered approach , where many are dependent on outsourcing parts of their operations , subcontracting and subletting packages and making this process increasingly complex . In projects over £ 10 million , it is not uncommon for main contractors to hire over 40 subcontractors . To this effect , many organisations remain uncertain around responsible sourcing and have struggled to address the full breadth of issues regarding such areas .
Responsible sourcing has been defined as “ an organisation ’ s procurement policy , via its purchasing decisions and practices , and addresses a range of environmental , economic and social considerations . It can be perceived as taking an ethical approach throughout the supply chain , but does not pertain only to social issues .” It is therefore vital for companies to know where materials have come from , and to operate with the knowledge that their materials are made in situations and conditions which are acceptable .
Raising awareness “ This affects millions of people around the world , there are supply chains which are fraught with risk and is very real ,” adds Building Research
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