Combatting Modern Slavery

The Playbook requires that 'a risk-based approach in our commercial activity should be applied to combatting Modern Slavery starting in the planning and preparation stage' (p.26). Early involvement of tier 2 and 3 supply chain members at framework level is an important means by which clients and tier 1 suppliers can ensure the adoption of ethical and professional employment practices and can gain the information and insights they need in order to eradicate the possibility of Modern Slavery.

If frameworks do not make clear how clients, managers and suppliers go about achieving social value expectations, then social value targets may inadvertently lead to suppliers simply passing extra obligations and costs down the supply chain. In order to manage these risks:

■  A Gold Standard framework connects social value expectations and measures to the proposals put forward when suppliers are appointed, it makes clear how these proposals will be implemented and it explores the potential for greater social value benefits where clients, managers, suppliers and supply chain members work together

■  A Gold Standard framework contract supports social value through collaborative contractual machinery of the type described in Sections 5 and 13, agreeing the actions by clients, managers, suppliers and supply chain members that convert social value targets into agreed actions with clear timescales.