Businesses operating in global supply chains are more likely to encounter situations of forced labor or other forms of modern slavery than their multinational counterparts, yet many lack simple guidance on how to identify, prevent, and manage these risks effectively.

Governments are increasingly scrutinizing human trafficking and forced labor abuses in private sector operations. In addition to the moral imperative to address these abuses, businesses should be on alert given the significant disruptions in supply chains that government regulation may cause, resulting in potential economic, legal, and/or reputational harm. Apparel, food and beverage, technology, and financial services companies in particular should closely monitor and prepare for global regulatory developments.

The past decade has seen a growing number of regulatory frameworks directed at tackling human trafficking. Under these frameworks, businesses are required to disclose their efforts to address human trafficking in their operations and supply chains and to conduct human rights due diligence more thoroughly (see, for example, the California Transparency in Supply Chains Act 2010, the UK Modern Slavery Act 2015, the French Corporate Duty of Vigilance Law 2017 and the Australian Modern Slavery Act 2018). In addition, a plethora of resources has been made available to help business and anti-trafficking organizations identify, prevent and address human trafficking.

A recently published investigative report by the Associated Press has brought attention to the issue of child labor, which continues to afflict the palm oil industry.

Unfortunately, the problem is not new—and neither are efforts to put an end to it. Over the years, leading agriculture companies have set ambitious targets (both individually and jointly) to eradicate child labor. However, child labor is a complex issue, and its root causes, such as high rates of poverty and lack of educational infrastructure, require holistic multi-stakeholder approaches and solutions. Furthermore, the complexity of global agricultural commodity supply chains mean that human rights issues are often concealed beyond tier 1 due to a lack of transparency. This can oftentimes make it challenging to identify and address potential and actual harms to children.

To celebrate the launch of the updated Interactive Map for Business of Anti-Human Trafficking Organizations and Initiatives, GBCAT is co-hosting a webinar on January 26, 2021, to showcase successful anti-trafficking partnerships between business and non-profit organizations or initiatives.

The coronavirus pandemic has exacerbated the plight of many people around the world who were already living and working in slavery-like conditions and has made many more susceptible to such exploitation. For companies with extensive operations and supply chains, the risk of human trafficking taking place within their value chain is on the rise, an issue the Global Business Coalition Against Human Trafficking (GBCAT) and many other anti-trafficking initiatives have elevated to the business community throughout the year. In response, many organizations are partnering with the private sector to help prevent, identify, mitigate, and address human trafficking in business operations and supply chains around the world.