Stone paving supplier London Stone has come out in support of new measures to tackle slave labour

Large businesses in the UK will have to disclose their efforts to tackle slave labour, an announcement by the government has said today.

The move, designed to inform consumers of where their goods have come from and how they got here, will comprise part of the Modern Slavery Bill – a bill introduced in May of this year which is designed to eradicate the practice and assist victims of it.

It’s hoped the measures will help to keep supply chains free of slavery, according to Home Office ministers.

Minister for Modern Slavery and Organised Crime, Karen Bradley, said big business has a responsibility to stop the practice.

“The fact that there are more people in slavery today than at any other time in human history is shameful. We all have a responsibility to stamp out this evil trade and this world leading measure calls on business to play their part,” she explained. “There are already many companies showing a lead and taking action. Greater transparency will give customers, campaigners and shareholders the information they need to hold all big business to account while also supporting companies to do the right thing.”

Shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, also backed the changes.

“At long last the government has recognised that more should be done on international business supply chains to stop slavery,” she said

“We have been calling for stronger action from the start and we will look at the detailed proposals to make sure they go far enough. Reports of people being forced to work for no money, beaten and threatened with violence in the supply chain of products destined for UK shop shelves have shocked us all, and action is needed to protect human rights and promote ethical business.”

The move, which has been commended by the Ethical Trading Initiative (ETI), has also been backed by London Stone – a provider of natural stone paving who’ve worked closely with ETI to promote worker rights in India.

A spokesman for the London-based natural stone experts believes that the move could prove essential.s

“Slavery is a serious problem in the global supply trade and forcing businesses to be more transparent, shining a spotlight on what they’re doing, is an excellent way to promote a more ethical approach to trade,” he said.

Continuing, “We know what a difference these efforts can make. At London Stone we care about where our quality stone comes from and how it got here which is why we voluntarily got involved in the Ethical Trading Initiative alongside several other top garden paving suppliers in the UK, and we’ve been fortunate enough to have made a real difference on working conditions and human rights in Rajasthan, India. It’s been a very enlightening and uplifting experience and any organisation or business aiming to rid the world of slavery has our backing.”

London Stone sells many types of stone, from sandstone and granite to porcelain and yorkstone. They’re one of the UK’s biggest suppliers of paving and deliver throughout the country. Visit their website today at www.londonstone.co.uk to learn more.