TWO major names in the Scottish energy sector have joined the Scotland Against Modern Slavery movement.
SSE and Wood have signed up to the movement to work alongside existing members of the group as part of a cross-industry collaboration, in a bid to stop the misery caused by labour exploitation.
Scotland Against Modern Slavery (SAMS) has brought together the Scottish Government with over 56 businesses, charities, and NGOs, with the core aims of raising awareness of the problem, supporting survivors into positive employment opportunities, and protecting vulnerable communities from exploitation.
Over 600 men, women and children were identified as potential victims of human trafficking in Scotland last year – the highest number since records began. The Scottish Government funds Migrant Help and the Trafficking Awareness Raising Alliance (TARA) to provide crisis support and assistance to potential victims identified in Scotland.
Siobhian Brown MSP, minister for victims and community safety, said, “Human trafficking and exploitation is abhorrent and illegal and action is needed across all sectors to end it. I am pleased to see more Scottish companies joining the fight against human trafficking and being clear that they are united with us in preventing the exploitation of people.”
Shan Saba, founder of SAMS, added, “We have supported over 19 survivors into work in recent years, each one suffering from the trauma of being exploited here on our doorstep. By the business community working together, we can share best practice and help stamp out this misery in our society.”
Rachel McEwen, chief sustainability officer at SSE, commented, “SSE has zero tolerance of human rights abuses and modern slavery in all its forms and has a responsibility to understand the risks within its own business and supply chain and to reduce those risks. We are always keen to hear from and learn from others to protect vulnerable people and communities from exploitation wherever that may be.”
Linzie Forrester, president of sustainability at Wood, added, “At Wood, we are delivering the changes that world needs most, making sustainability real for our clients and ourselves. Everything we do is with an unwavering commitment to what we believe in and how we behave – with care and courage. We are driven to deliver solutions that transform the world into a clean, safe, ethical and equitable environment, and our work with SAMS will help make those ambitions possible.”
