Local authority commits to tackling modern slavery in the IT products it buys
A town hall has become one of the first local authorities in the country to commit to tackling modern slavery in the IT equipment it buys.
Lewisham Mayor Damien Egan made the announcement at UNISON’s National Delegate Conference in Liverpool last week.
He spoke about how councils can tackle modern slavery and exploitation of workers across the world through ethical buying. Its affiliation with Dutch firm Electronics Watch is the latest step in it’s pledge to work to eliminate modern slavery from the products it purchases.
Mr Egan, pictured, said: “Never in the history of the planet has there been more people working in slavery. Tackling Modern Slavery is one of the moral duties of our time.
“Our new partnership with Electronics Watch is an important step in that fight.”
Last year, it signed the Co-Operative Party Charter Against Modern Slavery and published its first annual Modern Slavery Transparency Statement, setting out how it is tackling the issue.
IT hardware is manufactured largely in South East Asia and workers are at higher risk of being forced into labour and human trafficking to make those products.
Local authorities and other organisations are likely to be purchasing IT products that have been made by people trapped in Modern Slavery.
Everyone at the South London Press thanks you for your continued support.
Former Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick has encouraged everyone in the country who can afford to do so to buy a newspaper, and told the Downing Street press briefing:
“A FREE COUNTRY NEEDS A FREE PRESS, AND THE NEWSPAPERS OF OUR COUNTRY ARE UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE”
If you can afford to do so, we would be so grateful if you can make a donation which will allow us to continue to bring stories to you, both in print and online. Or please make cheques payable to “MSI Media Limited” and send by post to South London Press, Unit 112, 160 Bromley Road, Catford, London SE6 2NZ
