Modern Slavery Awareness and Avoidance Factsheet
Modern slavery, a critical human rights concern, involves exploiting individuals via force, fraud, or coercion, including forced labour, human trafficking, and child labour. This issue is especially common in sectors dependent on low-skilled, low-paid workers. Organisations need to be vigilant and proactive in preventing modern slavery within their operations and supply chains.
What’s in the Factsheet?
What is Modern Slavery
Examples of Modern Slavery
Legal Considerations
Ethical Considerations
Identifying and Mitigating Risks
What you need to know:
Modern slavery, a grave human rights issue involving exploitation through forced labor, debt bondage, human trafficking, and more, is notably prevalent in low-skilled, low-paid industries.
In Australia, instances are often concealed, with sectors like agriculture, construction, domestic work, fishing, and manufacturing particularly vulnerable.
The Modern Slavery Act 2018 mandates Australian businesses to report their anti-slavery efforts, fostering transparency and imposing penalties for non-compliance.
Ethically, addressing modern slavery involves respecting individual dignity, ensuring social responsibility, and supporting victims.
This factsheet emphasises the importance of businesses conducting thorough due diligence, establishing procedures for reporting exploitation within supply chains, and fostering an environment where concerns can be safely reported internally and externally.
