Closing Remarks and Resources on Modern Slavery Today

Over the past several months, we have reviewed the scope of the problem and its current regulatory framework at a national, regional, and voluntary international level. We have also provided an overview of multiple initiatives for addressing MS ranging from those led by private brands, nonprofits, MSIs in the cotton and other sectors, investors, tech-based response, and regulatory innovations in liability definitions. Finally, we gave a summary of potential steps ahead for key stakeholders that have a role to play in defining a more effective path ahead.

Photo by Markus Spiske on Unsplash

After months of research, dozens of conversations with practitioners that generously gave their time over the phone or at conferences, and poring over data, it comes as no surprise that there is no formulaic answer on how to address MS and eliminate it. As many other social problems, MS touches on economic incentives and systems, political frameworks and capacities, and behavioral and cultural norms. Thus, approaching it requires a combination that includes the concerted efforts of all of the above. There will be no simple answers to hard questions (International Labor Organization 2018).

Due diligence in human rights is the direction that this space seems to be directed towards. Its success will depend on how capable we are of bringing together policy and regulatory commitments coupled with monitoring and enforcement, consumer and investor pressure, and brand transparency and willingness to change purchasing practices. One of the salient challenges in this model are the conflicting interests and levels of information of each of these parties. Additionally, incentives for brands may actually pull in different directions. For example, a company that has very strong traceability and transparency may actually find more cases of abuse than one that is simply not looking hard enough. If consumers punish the brand that is openly disclosing their cases instead of allowing them the opportunity to react, remediate, and take preventive action, then we are not moving any closer to our shared goal.

A promising example is that of the Mekong Club, which provides a safe space for information sharing whilst overcoming the shame and blame tendency of mass media outlets and public outcry. If we are able to tie these spaces with concrete and publicly available information on evaluation and key performance indicators, consumers may be able to exercise more effective leverage that is adequately informed.

Another best practice moving forward is that of the Better Buying Index, which inverts the traditional dynamic of buyers rating suppliers and allows suppliers to grade the buyers. These ratings are a step towards aligning all internal teams towards a common goal. A broader problem is the pressure to reduce costs and prices. As more and more consumers become aware of the true costs of their purchases, it is possible that we may begin to see externalities such as water pollution, waste/dye discharge, child labor, considered as part of the pricing equation of that which we buy.

For stakeholders interested in making public commitments on their policies and practices, there are a variety of options available. This is a short list of examples and it is by no means comprehensive.

Pledges

• SweatFree Commitment (International Labor Rights Forum 2019)
• The Business Pledge — Mekong Club (Mekong Club 2019)
• Cotton Pledge (Responsible Sourcing Network 2018)

Alliances/Associations

• Alliance 8.7 (Alliance 8.7 2018)
• Responsible Labor Initiative — RBA
• Floor Wage Alliance (Sivalogananthan 2019)

Resources

• Responsible Sourcing Tool for understanding risks in the supply chain associated with MS (State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons et al. 2019)
• Risk indicators for MS in apparel (Wright 2019) and risk management in the Australian context (KPMG and Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI) 2019)
• Human Rights Toolkit for impact assessments, training, and indicators (The Danish Institute for Human Rights 2019)
• Databases for due diligence and verifying suppliers such as Country Risk Rankings, World Check, Resolution Service, CLEAR, Checkpoint, Compliance Learning (Thomson Reuters 2016)
• On recruitment fees and migrant workers (Ethical Trading Initiative and Ergon 2018) and a Fair Hiring Toolkit with specific steps to prevent, detect and remediate MS with migrant workers (Verite 2019)
• Toolkits for construction, agri-business and global supply chains (Stronger Together 2019). Blueprint for hospitality industry and hotel managers (Shiva Foundation 2019)
• Specific actions to engage with suppliers (Taylor 2017) and tips for ethical supply chains (Blanche, Groff, and Sullivan 2017)
• Training toolkits on core sustainability topics (Global Environmental Management Initiative 2019)
• Case studies compendium on businesses addressing MS (Consumer Goods Forum 2019)

References:

Alliance 8.7. 2018. “ALLIANCE 8.7.” https://www.alliance87.org/ (December 4, 2019).

Blanche, Caitlin, Amy Groff, and John Sullivan. 2017. “10 Tips for the Ethical Supply Chain in 2018.” Supply Chain Dive. https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/10-tips-for-the-ethical-supply-chain-in-2018/521021/ (September 30, 2019).

Consumer Goods Forum. 2019. “Forced Labour Priority Industry Principles.” The Consumer Goods Forum. https://www.theconsumergoodsforum.com/initiatives/social-sustainability/key-projects/priority-industry-principles/ (October 4, 2019).

Ethical Trading Initiative, and Ergon. 2018. Managing Risks Associated with Modern Slavery A Good Practice Note for the Private Sector. https://www.ifc.org/wps/wcm/connect/485fd322-d01a-474a-b447-3ed9c40c4f88/Global+Practice+Note_Managing+Risks+Associated+With+Modern+Slavery_Draft+For+Consultation_14.08.2018.pdf?MOD=AJPERES (June 20, 2019).

Global Environmental Management Initiative. 2019. “GEMI Sustainability 101 Training Toolkit.” GEMI. http://gemi.org/solutions/solutions-interactive/gemi-sustainability-101-training-toolkit-industry-employees/ (December 4, 2019).

International Labor Organization. 2018. Ending Forced Labour by 2030: A Review of Policies and Programmes. Geneva. https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---ed_norm/---ipec/documents/publication/wcms_653986.pdf (November 3, 2019).

International Labor Rights Forum. 2019. “SweatFree Communities.” https://laborrights.org/our-work/sfc (October 18, 2019).

KPMG, and Australian Council of Superannuation Investors (ACSI). 2019. “Modern Slavery: Risks, Rights & Responsibilities.” : 56.

Mekong Club. 2019. “The Business Pledge.” https://themekongclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/THE-BUSINESS-PLEDGE_final.pdf (October 9, 2019).

Responsible Sourcing Network. 2018. “Cotton Pledges Against Forced Labor.” Responsible Sourcing Network. https://www.sourcingnetwork.org/the-cotton-pledge (March 7, 2019).

Shiva Foundation. 2019. “Resources.” Shiva Foundation. http://www.shivafoundation.org.uk/resources/ (December 4, 2019).

Sivalogananthan, Aberamy. 2019. “Asia Floor Wage Alliance’s Step-by-Step Approach in Preventing Gender-Based Violence in Production Lines.” Clean Clothes Campaign. https://asia.floorwage.org/resources/asia-floor-wage-alliance2019s-step-by-step-approach-in-preventing-gender-based-violence-in-production-lines-3 (July 23, 2019).

State Department’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, Verite, Made in a Free World, and Aspen Institute. 2019. “Responsible Sourcing Tool.” https://www.responsiblesourcingtool.org/ (October 17, 2019).

Stronger Together. 2019. “Resources.” Stronger Together. https://www.stronger2gether.org/resources/ (December 4, 2019).

Taylor, David. 2017. 11 Tactics for Engaging Suppliers with Your Tackling Modern Slavery Strategy. London: S4RB. http://www.s4rb.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Whitepaper-11-tactics-for-engaging-suppliers-with-your-Tackling-Modern-Slavery-strategy.pdf (June 20, 2019).

The Danish Institute for Human Rights. 2019. “Human Rights Impact Assessment Guidance and Toolbox.” The Danish Institute for Human Rights. https://www.humanrights.dk/business/tools/human-rights-impact-assessment-guidance-and-toolbox (July 23, 2019).

Thomson Reuters. 2016. How Can You Eliminate Modern Slavery in Complex Supply Chains? https://www.thomsonreuters.com/content/dam/ewp-m/documents/thomsonreuters/en/pdf/reports/modern-slavery-report.pdf (June 20, 2019).

Verite. 2019. “Fair Hiring Toolkit for Brands.” Verité. https://www.verite.org/help-wanted/fair-hiring-toolkit/for-brands/ (October 17, 2019).

Wright, Beth. 2019. “Red Flags for Modern Slavery in Fashion Supply Chains.” https://www.just-style.com/analysis/red-flags-for-modern-slavery-in-fashion-supply-chains_id136383.aspx (July 1, 2019).