Compliance guide
Modern Slavery Policy Template
A Modern Slavery policy is your internal rulebook for preventing forced labour and human trafficking in your business and supply chain. This guide gives you a template structure and shows how it differs from a statement. Need it done for you? Get a portal-ready document.
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Key takeaways
- A Modern Slavery policy is an internal document stating your rules and commitments; a statement is the public report on your risks and actions.
- Portals and customers sometimes ask for the policy, sometimes the statement, and occasionally both.
- A small business can have a short, practical policy, it doesn't need to be long to be effective.
- Use the template below, or get a tailored document from ESG Complete (Modern Slavery Statement from AU$159, or included in the AU$499 ESG/CSR statement).
What is a Modern Slavery policy?
A Modern Slavery policy (also called an anti-slavery policy) is an internal document that sets out your business's zero-tolerance stance on modern slavery and the practical steps you take to prevent it. It guides how your staff and suppliers are expected to behave.
It applies to forced labour, human trafficking, debt bondage and the worst forms of child labour, in both your own operations and your supply chain.
Policy vs statement: which do you need?
- A policy is internal: it states your rules, responsibilities and procedures.
- A statement is external: it publicly reports your risks and the actions you've taken (see our Modern Slavery statement template).
Modern Slavery policy template structure
Adapt this outline. For a small business, a one-to-two page policy is perfectly acceptable.
- Purpose & scope, why the policy exists and who it applies to (staff, contractors, suppliers).
- Our commitment, a clear zero-tolerance statement on modern slavery.
- Definitions, what modern slavery covers, in plain terms.
- Responsibilities, who is accountable for the policy and for compliance.
- Due diligence, how you assess and manage risk in your supply chain.
- Reporting concerns, how staff or suppliers can raise issues (whistleblowing).
- Breaches, the consequences of failing to comply.
- Review, how often the policy is reviewed and updated.
How to write your Modern Slavery policy
Turn the template into a finished policy with these steps.
- 1
State your commitment
Open with a clear, unambiguous zero-tolerance position on modern slavery.
- 2
Define the scope
Say who the policy binds, employees, contractors, and suppliers, and across which operations.
- 3
Assign responsibility
Name the role accountable for the policy and for handling concerns.
- 4
Describe your due diligence
Explain how you check suppliers and manage higher-risk relationships.
- 5
Set up a reporting channel
Give people a safe, clear way to raise concerns without fear of retaliation.
- 6
Approve and communicate
Have it approved by management, then share it with staff and suppliers and review it annually.
Get a portal-ready Modern Slavery document
Whether you need the statement, the policy, or a full ESG/CSR set, ESG Complete delivers a compliant PDF built for Felix, Avetta and CM3, usually within the hour.
Modern Slavery Statement
A standalone, portal-ready Modern Slavery Statement for vendors who only need this one document. (AU$159 inc GST)
Get started->Sustainability Statement (CSR / ESG)
ESG, CSR and anti-slavery in one compliant PDF, built for supplier portals. (AU$499 inc GST)
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