2022 could be the worst year for modern slavery – with close to 8,000 victims within the first six months

Such slavery includes a range of exploitative practices including forced, compulsory and child labour to debt bondage and human trafficking.

Criminal practice affects more than 40 million people worldwide, 24.9 million of which are said to be exploited through forced labour, with 16 million in global supply chains.

And crooks profiting from this make approximately £128 billion annually as a result.

As a result, on Anti-Slavery Day, BSI (The British Standards Institution) have announced the launch of its world’s first national standard to help organizations across the UK and abroad to eradicate modern slavery.

With companies facing increased scrutiny over supply chain issues regarding social responsibility, organizational impact and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) reporting, the modern slavery standard provides guidance for businesses to identify risks, and potential victims, while offering advice on how to combat the issue.

Over 4,000 victims in the second half of 2022

Susan Taylor Martin, CEO, BSI, said: “Global disruptions such as COVID-19 and the return of war in Europe have changed the game and created greater risks of modern slavery than were faced in 2015 when the Modern Slavery Act was enacted.