Why organizations worldwide need to pay attention to Bill S-211 on Modern Slavery?

How Bill S-211 aligns with Canada's commitment to the UN SDGs?

14 Apr 2023

Modern Slavery is a widespread global issue which includes human trafficking, child labour, servitude, slavery, forced labour and forced marriages. Around the world, modern slavery affects more than a million people. Modern slavery is present in the supply chains of many of the things we consume on a daily basis. As an illustration, consider footwear, clothing, coffee, sugar, cocoa, masks, and a variety of other items.

Several countries across the globe have implemented anti-slavery laws. Canada is one among to propose a new law, Bill S-211, to combat forced work and child labor in supply chains. The S-211 will become law in 2024 after being passed in 2023. Companies need to be proactive by the time the law is enforced.

Whom does it Impact?

The Canadian modern slavery Act impacts on:

• The companies who sell, produce, distribute or import goods into Canada.
• Every entity listed on the Canadian Stock exchange or meet any of the 2 criteria listed below:
  Annual Assets – $20M
  Annual Revenue – $40M
  Average Employees – 250

This Act requires many government institutions and private-sector entities to report to the Minister on the steps and efforts taken to prevent and mitigate the risk of forced labour and child labor in their supply chain.

The following information must be included in the annual modern slavery report.

• A detailed structure of the supply chain and its activities.
• Due diligence procedures
• Analysis and highlights of risks in forced labor and child labor and the corrective action plan to mitigate risk.
• Any awareness trainings implemented to educate the supply chain.

To verify the accuracy of the report, the aforementioned information must be validated by the officers of the organisation. The Modern Slavery Report must also be made available for public viewing on the firm website.

The Minister of the Senate will check the yearly reports to see if they contain accurate information or not.

Consequences of non-filing:

If a company or entity fails to file the annual modern slavery report or provides false or incorrect information or do not publish the report on the website, the Canadian government will fine a huge penalty for the offense made.

The Global Scenario on Modern Slavery

There are many countries fighting slavery around the world, similar to Canada’s modern slavery act. Here are a few laws that may be of interest to you, including the US Dodd-Frank Act for Conflict Minerals, the UK Modern Slavery Act, the German Supply Chain Due Diligence Act, the Netherlands Child Labour Due Diligence Act, the California Transparency in Supply Chain Act, the EU Human Rights and Environmental Due Diligence (HREDD) Act, and many more.

Every business must actively take part in the detection and abolition of forced work and child labour in their supply chain by enhancing a strong due diligence procedure. In exchange, this study would assist upstream businesses in comprehending and distancing themselves from those engaged in practises that would enhance their reputation and promote commercial expansion in the Canadian market.

ComplianceXL is at the forefront of simplifying compliance for organizations worldwide. We help organizations achieve their ESG goals and remain compliant with all relevant regulations. Talk to one of our ESG specialists today to learn more about the Canadian bill on modern slavery.

FAQs about Canadian Bill S-211 on Modern Slavery

What is Modern Slavery Act statement policy?

The prevention, detection and reporting of modern slavery in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control.

What are the high-risk sectors for modern slavery?

Examples of high-risk sectors include industrial cleaning, meat works, hospitality, construction, manufacturing, agriculture and fishing.