Modern slavery questionnaire response guide

Modern slavery questions come in distinct shapes, and the right answer depends on which one you received: a request for a formal statement, a policy, a description of your due-diligence process, evidence of training, or an account of how you control your own suppliers. Identify which is being asked before drafting — a policy answer to a due-diligence question reads as evasive even when nothing is wrong.

Small suppliers often hold more relevant evidence than they realise: a policy statement, training records, supplier onboarding checks, right-to-work processes, and governance or board minutes touching on the topic. Describe what actually happens in your business rather than borrowing template language written for larger companies — reviewers can tell, and accuracy here matters more than polish.

This topic carries legal weight. Statements about compliance with modern slavery legislation, warranties about your supply chain, or contractual commitments should be reviewed by whoever holds legal responsibility before they leave the business. If a questionnaire asks you to certify something you cannot verify — such as conditions deep in your own supply chain — say what you do control and what you cannot yet see, rather than certifying blind.