Australia Must Keep Pace as UK, EU and Canada Strengthen Action on Forced Labour
The Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner has welcomed significant developments across the United Kingdom, Europe and Canada that signal growing international momentum to eliminate forced labour from global supply chains and has called on Australia to strengthen its own response.
In the past 48 hours, key Australian trading partners have taken major steps to strengthen measures aimed at preventing goods made with forced labour from entering their markets and increasing corporate accountability for modern slavery risks.
In the United Kingdom, Trade Minister Sir Chris Bryant MP yesterday indicated support for a forced labour import ban and mandatory human rights due diligence laws, stating he would be "absolutely amazed" if the UK had not introduced "some kind of forced labour ban" by the end of the current Parliament.
The comments coincided with legislative reforms to strengthen the operation and enforcement of the UK's Modern Slavery Act 2015, including the introduction of significant financial penalties for non-compliance with reporting requirements.
The European Commission has also released guidance and implementation tools for the European Union's Forced Labour Regulation, which will empower authorities from next year to investigate and remove products linked to forced labour from the EU market.
These developments follow recent reforms in Canada to introduce a stronger legislative framework prohibiting the importation of goods made with forced labour. Taken together, the actions of the UK, EU and Canada demonstrate a clear shift towards stronger enforcement, import controls and corporate due diligence measures.
Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner Chris Evans said:
"Around the world, we are seeing clear momentum towards stronger action on forced labour. The United Kingdom, the European Union and Canada are all strengthening their legal frameworks, increasing enforcement and raising expectations on businesses operating in global supply chains.”
"These are not isolated developments. They reflect a growing international consensus that goods produced through forced labour should have no place in our economies."
Commissioner Evans said the developments highlighted an emerging gap between Australia's framework and those of its major partners.
"When Australia's Modern Slavery Act was introduced, we were regarded as an international leader. Today, many comparable jurisdictions are moving beyond transparency requirements and introducing stronger enforcement mechanisms, due diligence obligations and import controls.
"As our major trading partners continue to strengthen their responses, Australia risks falling behind, and becoming a destination market for goods made with forced labour that are facing restrictions elsewhere."
The Commissioner said the international developments should provide fresh impetus for Australia to strengthen its response to forced labour.
"The direction of travel internationally is clear. Leading democracies are recognising that transparency alone is not enough and are adopting stronger legal and regulatory tools to address forced labour in global supply chains. Australia should be part of that movement.”
“This is not simply a human rights issue. Strengthening Australia’s framework would also help Australian businesses remain competitive, retain access to international markets and meet evolving regulatory and stakeholder expectations.”
Commissioner Evans will travel to the United Kingdom next week and will meet with government, business and civil society stakeholders to discuss efforts to combat forced labour and modern slavery.
"Every worker deserves freedom, dignity and fair treatment. The momentum we are seeing across the UK, Europe and Canada should encourage Australia to take the next step in ensuring Australian consumers and businesses are not connected to exploitation."