Modern Slavery in Liner Shipping: An Empirical Analysis of Corporate Disclosures

CEPRI Studies on Private Governance, Issue 7/2022; International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations 40, no. I (2024 Forthcoming)

39 Pages Posted: 27 Apr 2023

See all articles by Maxim Usynin

Maxim Usynin

University of Copenhagen - Centre for Private Governance (CEPRI)

Date Written: 2022

Abstract

Modern slavery and human trafficking present an inherent risk to workers engaged in operations surrounding shipping activities. One of the first statutes addressing the problem was the UK Modern Slavery Act [MSA], which presents several statutory sanctions for shipping companies in case of non-compliance. The article examines the sanctions available under different provisions of MSA as applied specifically to shipping activities.

As a further step, the article conducts an empirical analysis of the reporting practices of liner shipping operators, eligible for compliance under MSA. In addition to the rates of compliance, it engages in content analysis of the modern slavery statements, seeking to identify the uniform patterns of reporting and industry best practices.

The last part of the article discusses whether corporate undertakings as reported in modern slavery statements may serve as a ground for tort liability, similarly to the supply chain or ‘production liability’ emerging from group policies and codes of conduct.

Keywords: UK Modern Slavery Act; liner shipping; corporate liability for group policies; extraterritorial regulation

Suggested Citation

Usynin, Maxim, Modern Slavery in Liner Shipping: An Empirical Analysis of Corporate Disclosures ( 2022). CEPRI Studies on Private Governance, Issue 7/2022; International Journal of Comparative Labour Law and Industrial Relations 40, no. I (2024 Forthcoming), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4419156 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4419156

Maxim Usynin (Contact Author)

University of Copenhagen - Centre for Private Governance (CEPRI) ( email )

Karen Blixens Vej 16
Copenhagen, 2300
Denmark
+45 35 33 40 03 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://https://jura.ku.dk/privategovernance/english/staff/?pure=en/persons/575484

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