Tag Archives: trafficking

Eradicating modern slavery is one of the big challenges of our time

August 6, 2019Uncategorizedblockchain, exploitation, forced labour, global supply chains, human rights, modern slavery, Supply Chain, traffickingmartijn

There are currently an estimated 40.3 million people enslaved around the world. If we are to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goal to end modern slavery by 2030, then around 10 000 people need to escape from slavery each day.

Although people are becoming increasingly aware that modern slavery exists, it remains a phenomenon that is too often dismissed, underestimated or misunderstood. There is often confusion about what ‘modern slavery’ actually means as there is no one definition.

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Australian Government Should Lead Regional Response Against Slavery

October 17, 2016UncategorizedAndrew Forrest, Australia, Catalyst Australia, child labour, companies, exploitation, government, human rights, human rights abuses, legislation, michael keenan, modern slavery, Supply Chain, supply chains, trafficking, working groupmartijn

Andrew Forrest has called on the Australian government to consider legislation similar to the UK Modern Slavery Act to ensure Australian companies are held responsible for exploitation in their supply chains.

The billionaire businessman and philanthropist said Australia had the opportunity to lead the response to an issue deeply ingrained in the Australia Pacific region, which accounts for about two-thirds of the 45 million people in modern slavery globally.

“Critically, Australia’s supply chains are largely through Asia,” Mr Forrest said. “In this sense we are very exposed, and likely to suffer significant political and economic impact if slavery is found to be connected with our corporations or our government in any way.

“Australia could be the first country in the region to enact comprehensive legislation that ensures corporations are held to account for modern slavery in their supply chains, similar to the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015.”

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Australian Government Must Protect Vulnerable Workers in Supply Chains

September 21, 2016UncategorizedAustralia, catalyst, Catalyst Australia, companies, exploitation, forced labour, government, human rights, human rights abuses, legislation, migrant workers, modern slavery, Supply Chain, supply chains, trafficking, transparency, worker exploitation, working groupmartijn

There are more people subjected to slavery-like practices today than at any time in history: almost 21 million people are victims of forced labour.

Due to complex and opaque supply chains, something you wear, eat or drink may very well have touched the hands of a person, even a child, working under duress and in hazardous conditions.

These human rights abuses are linked to Australian companies, investors, government and consumers through global supply chains: 60 per cent of trade in the real economy depends on the supply chains of 50 companies, which only employ 6 per cent of workers directly.

A total of 11.7 million victims of forced labour and 78 million child labourers are located in the Asia-Pacific region. Given the fact that seven countries in this region comprise Australia’s top 10 import sources, Australian companies and government have a responsibility to meet these human rights abuses head on.

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Legislation to Combat Slavery and Trafficking in Supply Chains

September 20, 2016Uncategorized2SER, Australia, Catalyst Australia, companies, disclosures, exploitation, government, legislation, Supply Chain, supply chains, traffickingmartijn

Catalyst Australia researcher Martijn Boersma speaks to 2SER host Annamarie Reyes about exploitation in supply chains and what legislative measures the Australian Government must take. This includes ensuring that public procurement is ethical and making it obligatory for companies to disclose steps taken to combat exploitation in supply chains.

A New Catalyst Report Outlines Opportunities for Supply Chain Reform

September 13, 2016UncategorizedAustralia, Catalyst Australia, companies, government, human rights, investors, labour, legislation, reform, regulation, Supply Chain, supply chains, traffickingmartijn

Australian businesses have recently been implicated in serious labour abuses, both within and beyond Australia’s borders. A new paper by Catalyst Australia and The Australia Institute examines legislative developments aimed at tackling slavery and trafficking in other jurisdictions, and argues that Australia should learn from these measures in the face of urgent human rights issues with immediate impacts for Australian companies, government, investors and consumers.

Minister accused of killing supply chain abuse findings

September 13, 2016UncategorizedAustralia, catalyst, companies, exploitation, government, human rights, labour, legislation, Martijn Boersma, michael keenan, modern slavery, regulation, Supply Chain, supply chains, trafficking, transparency, working groupmartijn

Justice Minister Michael Keenan is yet to respond to a report on slavery from a working group he set up. Image: Fairfax

Justice Minister Michael Keenan has been accused of “death by committee” after he failed to respond to a report of a working group he set up recommending laws to stop exploitation in company supply chains.

The group has now released its own report fearing its recommendations will be ignored.

Exploitation scandals have hit major Australian brands over the past year. In February, Rip Curl was forced to apologise after its clothing labelled “made in China” was found to be made in North Korean factories. The company blamed a subcontractor.

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Australian government slow to respond to supply chain labour exploitation

April 25, 2016UncategorizedAustralia, Bangladesh, catalyst, civil society, companies, exploitation, forced labour, government, ILO, labour standards, modern slavery, regulation, Supply Chain, supply chains, trafficking, transparency, working groupmartijn

Rescue workers and volunteers search by hand for victims amongst the debris of the collapsed Rana Plaza building in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Photo: Jeff Holt

Sunday marks three years since the Rana Plaza garment factory collapse in Bangladesh. This disaster led to the tragic loss of 1130 lives, left 2500 injured, and sparked a global debate about workers’ rights and ethical labour standards in low-wage countries. In Australia, civil society organisations such as Baptist World Aid and Oxfam lead the charge to expose labour abuses and improve working conditions in global supply chains. But thus far the government has been largely absent form this debate and has been slow to act.

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