HR trends shaping the future of work in 2025
Ethics and compliance
Modern slavery is a violation of human rights that frequently occurs in supply chains and disproportionally affects millions of workers who are poor, vulnerable and low skilled. Driven by fierce competition and global demand for cheap labor, this exploitation of labor is often hidden within dispersed supply chains, spanning producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Production […]
Modern slavery is a violation of human rights that frequently occurs in supply chains and disproportionally affects millions of workers who are poor, vulnerable and low skilled. Driven by fierce competition and global demand for cheap labor, this exploitation of labor is often hidden within dispersed supply chains, spanning producers, manufacturers, distributors and retailers. Production and distribution interruptions resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic only exacerbate the problem.
Implementing modern slavery in supply chains training is one of the key measures to minimize the risks of modern slavery and human trafficking and ensure an ethical, safe and healthy work environment for all employees.
Anti-Slavery International defines modern slavery as the severe exploitation of other people for personal or commercial gain. Modern slavery practices include:
Modern slavery can exist within any stage of a supply chain – from raw materials to manufactured goods to shipping and delivery. Suppliers are incentivized to keep labor costs low and often exploit workers as cheap labor to squeeze out profits. However, often complex global supply chains make it difficult to know if and where labor exploitation may be occurring. When left unchecked, both consumers and organizations end up inadvertently contributing to the problem by purchasing goods made with exploited labor.
The economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on supply chains only compounds the issue of modern slavery. The Global Business Coalition Against Human Trafficking states that canceled or delayed purchase orders can result in supply chain workers losing their livelihoods and accepting precarious work. It adds that when global economies recover from the pandemic, the rush to fill supply chain orders may further drive exploitation.
To combat modern slavery in supply chains, which exploits millions of people each year, organizations need a comprehensive strategy to ensure the well-being of the people involved in their products, services and supply materials. Implementing controls, assessments, policies and training are among the proactive steps organizations can take to raise awareness and manage the risk of modern slavery and human trafficking in supply chains.