Fighting Modern Slavery in Digital Transformation: A France and Europe Perspective

In a connected economy, responsible business cannot stop at borders. For organizations operating across France and Europe, the fight against modern slavery is part of a broader commitment to human rights, ethical governance and accountable supply-chain management. At Publicis Sapient, this commitment reflects both the realities of multinational business and the responsibilities that come with delivering digital business transformation at global scale.

Modern slavery includes forced labour, human trafficking, child labour and other forms of exploitation. While these risks are often associated with traditional high-risk industries, they can also exist within the complex supplier ecosystems that support digital transformation, consulting, technology delivery and enterprise operations. Digital progress and business innovation must therefore be matched by vigilance, transparency and practical controls that protect human dignity throughout the value chain.

For companies serving clients and working with suppliers across multiple European markets, modern slavery prevention is not just a matter of compliance. It is part of how trust is built across cross-border operations. In Europe, stakeholders increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate that human rights principles are embedded in governance, supplier relationships, internal processes and daily decision-making. That means moving beyond statements of intent toward consistent action across local entities, regional operations and global partnerships.

As the digital business transformation hub of Publicis Groupe, Publicis Sapient approaches this responsibility through a combination of global governance and operational accountability. That approach matters in Europe, where businesses often operate across multiple jurisdictions, engage international vendors and manage supply chains that extend beyond a single country. A strong framework helps translate global principles into local practice.

A central part of this approach is alignment with Publicis Groupe governance. Publicis Groupe’s Code of Conduct and Ethics, known as JANUS, applies across subsidiaries and provides a shared foundation for ethical business behavior. This framework expressly prohibits forced labour, child labour and human trafficking, reinforcing a clear position on human rights across the organization.

For a European audience, this matters because governance consistency is essential in multinational environments. A common code helps ensure that expectations do not change from market to market, even when legal frameworks, supplier profiles and operating conditions differ. JANUS helps establish a unified standard that supports accountability across business units, geographies and teams. It also makes human rights part of a broader governance culture rather than a standalone compliance topic.

This commitment is strengthened by Publicis Groupe’s long-standing support for internationally recognized principles. As a signatory to the United Nations Global Compact since 2003, the Groupe aligns with principles that include the protection of universal human rights and the elimination of forced and compulsory labour and child labour. For companies operating in France and across Europe, that alignment signals that modern slavery prevention is part of a wider responsible-business agenda grounded in global standards.

At first glance, digital transformation may appear distant from the most visible forms of labour exploitation. But the ecosystems behind transformation are often broad and international. They can include technology providers, software developers, professional services firms, production partners, office services, facilities support and other vendors that contribute to project delivery and business operations. In multinational settings, this network may span low-risk and higher-risk environments at the same time.

That is why effective oversight is so important. Ethical risk is not defined only by the core business model; it is shaped by the wider supply chain, the use of third parties and the complexity of cross-border sourcing. In practice, responsible digital transformation requires companies to understand where risks may arise, set clear supplier expectations and monitor whether those expectations are being met.

Publicis Sapient’s Supplier Code of Conduct is a key part of this approach. It sets expectations for suppliers, partners and subcontractors around ethical behavior, compliance with law, environmental responsibility, business integrity, health and safety, and respect for human rights. Importantly, it prohibits forced labour, child labour and discrimination, and supports fair working conditions and respectful treatment of workers.

These expectations are not abstract. New suppliers are required to read and acknowledge the Code during onboarding, helping establish a clear baseline from the start of the relationship. Contractual mechanisms reinforce these standards further, with purchase order terms and global supplier agreements requiring compliance with applicable law and relevant internal standards. In a European context, this is especially important because supplier ecosystems often involve a mix of local, regional and global providers. Shared expectations help create consistency across that network.

Oversight must go beyond policy. Publicis Sapient uses due diligence measures designed to better understand supplier risk and identify areas that may require closer review. Existing and prospective suppliers may be asked to complete self-assessment questionnaires describing their policies, practices and actions to prevent slavery and human trafficking. These processes help create visibility into supplier controls and highlight where further engagement may be needed.

Where risks appear higher, additional review is important. Greater attention may be appropriate for suppliers operating outside the UK or European Economic Area, suppliers relying on temporary low-skilled labour, or suppliers involved in raw materials or other more complex sourcing environments. This kind of risk-based approach is relevant for many European businesses, because even organizations with relatively low-complexity direct supply chains may still interact with vendors whose own operating models span multiple countries and risk levels.

Responsible procurement practices support this effort. Major suppliers may be encouraged to engage with internal procurement charters, questionnaires and guidelines focused on corporate social responsibility. Supplier actions and commitments can also be tracked through dedicated assessment platforms that help evaluate performance across ethics, health and safety, environment and related standards. This creates a more structured way to monitor progress and encourage continuous improvement over time.

Strong governance and supplier oversight are only part of the picture. Employees also play an essential role in identifying risk and upholding standards. Publicis Sapient supports this through internal policies, employee guidance and training that build awareness of slavery and human trafficking issues. Employees also have access to confidential whistleblowing channels for raising concerns.

For multinational organizations, internal awareness matters because risks are not always obvious and can surface in different parts of the business. A culture that encourages people to speak up, ask questions and escalate concerns is critical to turning policy into practice. It also reinforces the idea that human rights protection is a shared responsibility, not only a procurement or legal issue.

Modern slavery prevention is not a one-time exercise. It requires ongoing review, monitoring and refinement as business models, supplier relationships and regulatory expectations evolve. Publicis Sapient’s approach reflects that reality through regular assessment of processes, annual reporting and continuing efforts to strengthen controls where needed.

For readers in France and across Europe, the broader message is clear: responsible digital transformation depends on ethical foundations. Strong governance from Publicis Groupe, alignment with JANUS, commitment to UN Global Compact principles, supplier standards, due diligence and employee awareness all contribute to a model in which innovation and human rights advance together.

In an era of increasingly connected operations, responsible sourcing and human-rights oversight are not peripheral concerns. They are core to resilient, credible and future-ready business. Publicis Sapient remains committed to helping ensure that the pursuit of digital transformation is matched by the discipline, transparency and accountability needed to combat modern slavery across multinational operations.

Relevant Links

• Sapient Limited Modern Slavery Statement 2025
• Sapient Limited Modern Slavery Statement 2025
• Responsible Business in the UK: Connecting Human Rights, Gender Equity and Social Impact
• A Deep Dive into Publicis Sapient’s Supplier Code of Conduct: How Ethical Procurement Supports Responsible Digital Transformation
• Modern Slavery in the Digital Age: Why Human Rights Matter in Consulting, Technology and Transformation Supply Chains
• Transformation responsable et droits humains : une perspective européenne pour les dirigeants (Europe)
• Transformación digital responsable en América Latina: derechos humanos, gobernanza y confianza en toda la cadena de valor (LATAM)
• FAQ (FAQ)
• What to Know About Publicis Sapient’s Responsible Business Approach in the UK: 10 Key Facts (LIST)