IOSH is part of the group, which has been set up by Baroness Young of Hornsey to support her campaign, Let's Make It Work: The Alliance for Transparency in Supply Chains Reporting.
Baroness Young was keen to work with NGOs, charities, businesses, public bodies and trade unions on the campaign.
The group's first meeting took place on Wednesday 6 September at the House of Lords. The meeting was held to consider the shape and content of the campaign.
Through the campaign, Baroness Young is seeking to strengthen legislation to prevent modern slavery and keep momentum going around transparency in supply chain reporting.
She is aiming to:
• raise levels of awareness of the Modern Slavery Act (2015) in general, and particularly Section 54 of the Act, Transparency in Supply Chains (TISC);
• support companies to improve the standard of TISC reporting through meetings, workshops, roundtables and other means;
• encourage more companies to comply with and go beyond the law and submit their reports;
• and encourage public bodies to devise and implement TISC reports.
Baroness Young is keen that the government plays a role in monitoring the impact of legislation and agrees to strengthen and extend it where necessary. As such, she has submitted a Private Members' Bill on Modern Slavery (Transparency in Supply Chains).
She is also hoping to establish a new All-Party Parliamentary Group on Sports and Human Rights.
Richard Jones, head of policy and public affairs at IOSH, said: "IOSH was pleased to be involved in this initiative, and, as well as suggesting improved Government guidance and monitoring of the sustainable development goals, highlighted the potential benefits of engaging business and trade associations in awareness-raising on this important topic."
IOSH has confirmed that Baroness Young will be part of an expert panel that will discuss corporate social responsibility and sustainability at IOSH 2017, its annual international conference being held on 20-21 November at the ICC in Birmingham, UK. To take part in the November's panel debate on day two, book yourself a place at IOSH 2017 here. And for more on our work in this area, see www.iosh.co.uk/sustainability
