The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions to communities, economies and businesses worldwide. As we all work hard to adjust and move forward, the companies of GBCAT want to remind the world that the most vulnerable of humanity are at greater risk now than ever. When businesses and supply chains are strained, so too are the people that keep businesses and supply chains running. In particular, the current conditions expose vulnerable populations to a greater risk of being exploited and caught in the web of modern slavery, which includes forced labor, bonded labor, human trafficking, and child labor.
As a reminder, forced labor can be as simple as withholding a worker’s passport to guarantee they keep working, requiring overtime work without pay, or threatening an individual who doesn't feel safe coming to work.
Companies across all industries and geographies are expected to respect human rights. Many companies have the ability to check in on and influence suppliers to ensure they also are complying with the law and not engaging in any form of modern slavery. We appreciate that we have a responsibility to act, and to wield our influence in ways that respect human rights, even more so during our current crisis.
We welcome companies around the world to join with GBCAT in condemning any and all forms of modern slavery, and to use your influence to help protect those that are most vulnerable during these challenging times.