The Global Slavery Index suggests that today 4.8 million in the world are enslaved and that two thirds are in Asia-Pacific. These victims provide low-skilled work in production in global supply chains for companies that bring food, clothes, and electronics to consumers.

“Reuters reported in a recent article that strategies for ending modern slavery were explored by global political and business leaders at the inaugural Bali Process Government and Business Forum, a regional meeting held recently in Perth bringing together 45 Bali Process member nations. This follows the Australian government’s announcement that it will legislate to prevent modern slavery in company supply chains by requiring large businesses to report annually on their actions to address it.”

Australia has an opportunity to begin a harmonized approach to address this problem globally. Many countries in recent years have taken initiatives to stop human slavery and also eliminate it in corporate supply chains. However, Australia now has a unique possibility to speed up this global momentum.