about modern slavery
WHAT IS MODERN SLAVERY?
Modern slavery is a human rights violation that impacts more than 40 million people globally. It's an umbrella term for a range of abuses including forced labour, extreme forms of child labour, debt bondage, domestic servitude, forced marriage and human trafficking. In short, modern slavery is the removal or restriction of a person's choice, voice and movement.
61% of modern slavery survivors are in forced labour; working on farms, in factories and fisheries (cf. Anti-Slavery Australia, Modern Slavery, 2020). Two-thirds of these are based in South-East Asia. Profits from forced labour alone is estimated to be around US$150 Billion.
In essence, “modern slavery is the commodification of people for the purpose of exploitation and financial gain’” (Unseen UK, Anti-Slavery Day, 2018).Say something interesting about your business here.
MODERN SLAVERY IN AUSTRALIA
Modern slavery is also a problem in Australia, with the Australian Institute of Criminology estimating there are at least 1,900 people living and working in slave-like conditions.
Many NGOs place that figure conservatively at 15,000. Hidden in plain sight, modern slavery in Australia exists in agriculture, horticulture, mining and construction, and in retails services such as nail salons, carwashes, cleaning services and security.
THE ETHICAL CHALLENGE OF MODERN SLAVERY
Modern slavery presents an ethical challenge for many organisations who are largely unaware of where their products come from, how they are made and what are the real conditions of workers. According to Luis C. deBaca (Former US Ambassador-at-Large to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons), "it's not a question of if, but where and to what extent there is slavery in your supply chains and operations."
When the Rana Plaza in Dhaka, Bangladesh collapsed on 24 April 2013, killing more than 1,100 factory workers and injuring 2,500 more, it brought worldwide attention to the plight of many workers, who suffer substandard working conditions in order to make the products we purchase. However, through its Sustainable Development Goals and Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the UN has put a mandate before governments and companies to improve the entire ecosystem of supply chain management.
THE MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2018 (CTH)
The Modern Slavery Ac 2018 (Cth) t has brought a new area of compliance to the business community of Australia. It calls upon organisations to report on the risk of slavery in their supply chains and operations, and to state what plans are being made to address it through a system of transparency, reporting and due diligence.
Although currently targeting organisations with an annual consolidated revenue of $100M+, the legislation will also impact smaller entities who are part of the supply chain of larger organisations.The legislation came into effect on January 1, 2019. The first reporting period is between 1 July 2019 and 30 June 2020, with the second round of reports due from 31 December 2021.
IMPLICATIONS FOR AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS
An organisation must prepare a modern slavery statement each financial year. The modern slavery statement must be posted online and include:
1. The organisation’s structure, its business and its supply chains.
2. Its due diligence processes in relation to modern slavery in its business and supply chains.
3. The parts of its business and supply chains where there is a risk of modern slavery taking place.
4. The steps it has taken to assess and manage that risk, including providing training about modern slavery for its employees.
Finally, the Act makes provision for entities that fall under the revenue threshold to voluntarily opt-in to comply. Those who elect to do so must indicate their intention to the Department of Home Affairs by the end of the reporting period (see page 22 of Guidance for reporting entities, 2019).
THE BUSINESS CASE FOR ADDRESSING MODERN SLAVERY
Aside from the legislative mandate for commercial entities to comply with the Modern Slavery Act 2018 (Cth), there is a strong business case for implementing the Act involuntarily or voluntarily. Here are four reasons to comply from a business perspective:Give customers a reason to do business with you.
1. Remain Competitive in the Market: Many commercial entities are now being required to demonstrate compliance in order to tender for business with large corporations and government departments.
2. Protect and Improve Your Reputation: Many customers and investors are making human rights practice a priority alongside a commercial entities environmental footprint (ACSI and RIAA, 2019).
3. Mitigate Financial and Legal Risks: There is a direct relationship between financial and legal impact in not addressing the risk of modern slavery. In particular, the impact of Covid-19 is being felt in global supply chains emphasising the need for sustainable solutions.
4. Boost Staff Morale and Engagement: Generations Y and Z are fast becoming the largest cohort of employees. They prioritise purpose over profit and are more engaged when they have purposeful employment experiences (CEO Magazine, 2019).
FIVE TIPS FOR ENGAGING WITH THE MODERN SLAVERY ACT 2018 (CTH)
1. Make the risk of Modern Slavery about modern slavery survivors, not about your organisation.
2. Publish your own Position Statement on Modern Slavery to signal your intention to meet compliance.
3. Put aside Statuary Declarations. No one can state they are slavery free.
4. Get started early. Understanding the risk of modern slavery can be long and complex.
5. Start by engaging your suppliers to understand their needs before you create policies.
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