Mi Hub welcomed Thea Cooper, Senior Advisor from the Slave-Free Alliance for an essential training session with our Supply Chain team. This session was designed to enhance our colleagues' ability to conduct ethical audits, recognise modern slavery risks, and ensure that responsible sourcing remains a core pillar of our business.
The Role of Walkthrough Audits in Ethical Supply Chains
A significant part of the training focused on walkthrough audits - a crucial tool in ensuring fair labour practices and worker safety in our global supply chain. Our team explored the Mi Hub Walkthrough Audit Report, learning how to identify potential compliance risks, assess working conditions, and engage suppliers on ethical business practices.
Why this matters:
✔ Improved visibility into supplier working conditions
✔ Stronger supplier relationships through proactive engagement
✔ Risk mitigation by identifying compliance issues early
By refining our factory audit process, we are reinforcing our commitment to supply chain transparency and driving meaningful improvements in ESG (Environment, Social and Governance)
Modern Slavery Awareness: Recognising and Addressing Exploitation
The session also covered key aspects of modern slavery awareness, equipping our team with knowledge on how to spot and respond to exploitation in supply chains. Key topics included:
✔ Identifying modern slavery red flags, including restricted movement, wage withholding, and unsafe working conditions
✔ Understanding the exploitation spectrum—from deceptive recruitment practices to forced labor
✔ Recognizing vulnerable groups at higher risk, such as migrant workers and low-wage employees
✔ Taking action when modern slavery is suspected, ensuring that reports are handled responsibly
By embedding human rights due diligence into our factory visits, we are strengthening our position as a company committed to ethical trade and supply chain accountability.
The Link Between Health & Safety and Modern Slavery
A crucial insight from the training was the connection between modern slavery and workplace health and safety risks. Poor health and safety standards are often an indicator of forced labour or worker exploitation - whether through lack of protective equipment, or hazardous working conditions.
By recognising these overlaps, our team can take a holistic approach to ethical supply chain management, ensuring that workers are protected both from unsafe conditions and exploitative labor practices.
Benefits of Modern Slavery and Ethical Auditing Training
This training is an integral part of Mi Hub's ongoing commitment to responsible sourcing and business sustainability. The benefits include:
✔ Stronger compliance with global labor laws, reducing corporate risk
✔ Improved supplier engagement, fostering transparency and ethical business practices
✔ Alignment with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) goals, reinforcing corporate responsibility
Driving a More Ethical Supply Chain
As our colleagues embark on factory visits, they do so with enhanced knowledge and confidence, prepared to uphold the highest standards of ethical sourcing and labor rights protection.
This training represents a significant step toward ensuring that workers’ rights are protected and that our business continues to lead in responsible sourcing and sustainable business practices.
