South Scotland MSP Colin Smyth has back the Scottish Co-Operative Party’s Charter Against Modern Slavery.

Modern Slavery is where a person is recruited, trafficked or harboured by force, coercion or deception or other means for the purpose of exploitation. It is estimated by the Scottish Co-Operative Party that approximately 160,000 people across the UK are being exploited as a result of modern slavery.

The Charter Against Modern Slavery places a great duty on the public sector to monitor signs of modern slavery in procurement and contractual processes and taking a proactive approach to tackling modern slavery. Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Enterprising DG supports the implementation of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and councillors will soon debate a motion at full council backing the Co-operative Party’s campaign.

Colin Smyth MSP said, “People will probably think slavery is something you read about in the history books. But sadly modern day slavery and human trafficking is prevalent with cases across Scotland, including Dumfries and Galloway and Ayrshire. Any form of exploitation is completely unacceptable which is why there is a need to step up efforts in the public sector to tackle it. The Scottish Co-Operative Party’s Charter if adopted by local authorities will help to ensure that efforts to eradicate modern slavery are increased.”