In July 2018, the Home Secretary, at the request of the Prime Minister, announced a review of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 (Act) including Section 54. The transparency in supply chains provisions set out in section 54 of the Act require large commercial organisations supplying good or services, and carrying on a business in the UK, to prepare a slavery and human trafficking statement for each financial year. The company must state the steps it has taken to ensure that slavery and human trafficking is not taking place in its business or its supply chains, or it must state it has taken no such steps.

The report principally addresses the question: “how to ensure compliance and drive up the quality of slavery and human trafficking statements produced by eligible companies”. The review panel sought evidence from civil society, Parliamentarians, government bodies, business and international organisations.