Complex supply chains ‘raise modern slavery risk in construction’

The Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) has warned that complex labour practices in construction risk masking efforts to tackle modern slavery. 44 per cent had no dedicated mechanism for workers to raise concerns about modern slavery. The Modern Slavery Act 2015 introduced a responsibility for companies to report what steps they were taking to prevent modern slavery in their organisation and supply chains, but these only apply to firms with a turnover above £36m. Home Office figures show that 23,411 potential victims of modern slavery, working across all industries, were identified in 2025. “Many do not formally map their supply chains, train staff, provide safe routes for workers to raise concerns, or measure whether their interventions are working.