Workers' abuse kept on Government agenda by BMA report

  A BMA report exposing the labour rights conditions in the production of medical gloves has been cited in a debate over the Government’s Modern Slavery Bill. Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Doocey referred to the association’s report In Good Hands during a hearing in the House of Lords on 13 April, into what steps ministers are taking to tackle slavery in industrial supply chains. She said: ‘What steps are the Government taking to eradicate modern slavery from supply chains, following the recent report by the BMA, which uncovered evidence of endemic abuses of labour rights in the medical gloves sector, which is within the Government’s own supply chain?' Responding, Lord Keen of Elie said that the Government had last year ratified the International Labour Organisation’s protocol on eradicating forced labour, becoming the third country in the world to do so. He added that the Home Office was also taking measures designed to ensure a greater level of clarity in the UK’s supply chain.   Poor workplace practice He said: ‘The UK Government successfully campaigned to establish the first ever UN target for ending modern slavery: sustainable development goal 8.7, which was adopted in 2015 and requires governments to take immediate and effective measures to eradicate forced labour and end modern slavery and human trafficking.’ Published last month by BMA Medical Fair and Ethical Trade Group and the European Working Group on Ethi...
Source: BMA News - Category: UK Health Source Type: news