What you will achieve

Understand the legal link

Learn how forced labour is treated as criminal property under money laundering laws, including key recent UK court decisions.

Spot Red Flags

Identify high-risk indicators in supply chains, recruitment processes, and labour conditions that may signal forced labour.

Build Integrated Frameworks

Develop due diligence and risk management systems that address both anti-money laundering and modern slavery compliance.

Protect Your Organisation

Avoid legal exposure, financial penalties, and reputational damage by strengthening detection and response mechanisms.

Enhance Training
and Reporting

Create effective internal training, safe reporting channels, and escalation procedures to handle forced labour concerns.

Course Expert

Jonathan Chibafa
Founder & Chief Legal Officer of Forge ESG

Course details

Online, self-paced learning
Dynamic pace adjusted to knowledge level
Customised learning path for each user
Identifies and addresses knowledge gaps
Measures actual competence, not just activity
Instant access to the learning platform

Who is it for

The course is designed for individuals whose role/function presents potential exposure to an organisation including those acting on its behalf.

The examples below are illustrative and not exhaustive;

Compliance Lawyers and Legal teams
AML and Financial Crime Specialists
Supply Chain and Procurement Professionals
Risk Management specialists
HR and Operations Managers
Senior Leadership and Board Members
High-Risk Third Parties acting on your company's behalf

Module 1

Why This Training is Critical Now

For every 1,000 people globally, 3.5 are working in forced labour conditions. Your organisation could be exposed through direct employment, suppliers, or extended supply chains. The landmark 2024 World Uyghur Congress v National Crime Agency Court of Appeal ruling has revolutionised this landscape, establishing that companies cannot rely on paying fair market value to avoid money laundering liability when dealing with goods suspected of being produced through forced labour.

This case fundamentally changed the interpretation of the "adequate consideration" exemption under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 (POCA), meaning goods produced through forced labour can remain "criminal property" throughout the supply chain, exposing businesses to serious financial crime risks.

Course content

What You'll Master

Core Understanding:

Definitions of forced labour, human trafficking, and modern slavery

International standards and UK legal frameworks (Modern Slavery Act 2015, Uyghur Forced Labour Prevention Act)

Global prevalence across industries and high-risk jurisdictions

Critical Legal Developments:

World Uyghur Congress case implications and the new money laundering risk landscape

How forced labour connects directly to POCA money laundering offences

Understanding when the "adequate consideration" exemption applies
(and when it doesn't)

Enhanced exposure to financial crime liability for companies with UK operations

Risk Recognition:

Identifying red flags in recruitment, working conditions, and worker treatment

High-risk sectors: construction, mining, agriculture, hospitality, manufacturing

Supply chain vulnerability assessment and mapping

AML risk indicators linked to forced labour practices

Prevention Strategies:

Implementing robust due diligence and supplier screening with enhanced AML considerations

Effective workforce training and awareness programmes

Creating safe reporting mechanisms and response protocols

Building comprehensive risk assessment frameworks that address both modern slavery and financial crime risks

Response and Compliance:

Proper escalation procedures when red flags are identified

Legal obligations under modern slavery legislation

Enhanced financial crime risk management and POCA compliance requirements

Transparency reporting and regulatory obligations

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Real-World Application

Through detailed case studies from fashion, manufacturing, and agriculture sectors, you'll see how forced labour risks manifest in practice and understand the new money laundering implications for businesses. Learn from both successful prevention strategies and recent regulatory enforcement actions that demonstrate the expanded scope of liability.

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Protect and Comply in the New Legal Landscape

This training provides practical tools to identify, prevent, and respond to forced labour risks while ensuring full compliance with evolving legal requirements. Understand your new money laundering exposure and protect your organisation from both regulatory sanctions and reputational damage in this transformed compliance environment.

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Safeguard vulnerable workers. Protect your business. Navigate new financial crime risks.

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Get in touch

Course overview

Created in collaboration with Jonathan Chibafa, Founder & Chief Legal Officer of Forge ESG. Jonathan is a leading barrister and compliance expert specialising in financial crime and ESG compliance. With two decades of experience advising global businesses and holding senior roles at GlaxoSmithKline and Tesco, he brings practical, technology-driven solutions to complex compliance challenges.

Modern slavery affects 27.6 million people globally, with forced labour generating $150 billion in criminal profits annually. Understanding and preventing these practices is both a moral imperative and critical business risk management, especially given recent legal developments that have fundamentally changed how companies face potential money laundering liability.

Master the law before it masters you

Master the law before it masters you launches September 1st, 2025! Sign up now to register your interest