What does the 2015 Modern Slavery Act mean to you?

Lucy Duggins  4 July 2016 12:04:37

Slavery is a very emotive word that takes us back to the dark ages of the 19th century. Well, apparently it need not take us back that far.

In January of this year, the first conviction was secured under the 2015 Modern Slavery Act. A Company Director was sentenced to 27 months in prison for knowingly engaging a supplier who was using illegal slave labour on far less than minimum wage.

Significantly, it was not just the supplier who was brought to justice, but also the customer, who should have been aware of this activity and that the price he was paying could not support at least the minimum wage.

So who is in your valeting bay ? Have you asked your current supplier to provide you with documentation on each of the operators on site, copies of passports, copies of driving licenses etc.? Have you asked how much they are getting paid in fees? Is your pricing supporting minimum wage? One warning sign will be a high turnover of operators due to their lack of ability to earn.

In the past, the attitude from many dealers has been a “not my problem” approach, “it’s up to the supplier who they use”. This new act puts you at risk of being prosecuted along with the supplier.

Autoclenz leads the way in compliance and legality to ensure our clients are not compromised.

 To find out more about the difference at Autoclenz please call Lucy on 01283 554682

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