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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/aug/17/australia-urged-to-create-anti-slavery-commissioner-to-fight-exploitation
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| Australia urged to create anti-slavery commissioner to fight exploitation | Australia urged to create anti-slavery commissioner to fight exploitation |
| (7 months later) | |
| Australia should create an independent anti-slavery commissioner to fight the practice of modern slavery and worker exploitation, according to a parliamentary inquiry. | Australia should create an independent anti-slavery commissioner to fight the practice of modern slavery and worker exploitation, according to a parliamentary inquiry. |
| The joint committee on foreign affairs, defence and trade is looking into the creation of a modern slavery act, which would target forced labour, human trafficking and slavery-like practices in the operation of Australian businesses, companies and governments. | The joint committee on foreign affairs, defence and trade is looking into the creation of a modern slavery act, which would target forced labour, human trafficking and slavery-like practices in the operation of Australian businesses, companies and governments. |
| The committee’s interim report, released on Thursday, gave in-principle support to creating an act, and recommended establishing the office of the commissioner, who would have the power to “consult, advise, report on and make recommendations” on issues of modern slavery. | The committee’s interim report, released on Thursday, gave in-principle support to creating an act, and recommended establishing the office of the commissioner, who would have the power to “consult, advise, report on and make recommendations” on issues of modern slavery. |
| Australian companies could be forced to report on how they combat slavery | Australian companies could be forced to report on how they combat slavery |
| The commissioner would be independent of government with the potential to incorporate the duties of the existing people smuggling and human trafficking ambassador, said the report. | The commissioner would be independent of government with the potential to incorporate the duties of the existing people smuggling and human trafficking ambassador, said the report. |
| On Wednesday, the federal justice minister, Michael Keenan, released a government plan to make large companies file annual reports on modern slavery in their supply chains, and what they were doing to combat it. | On Wednesday, the federal justice minister, Michael Keenan, released a government plan to make large companies file annual reports on modern slavery in their supply chains, and what they were doing to combat it. |
| Thursday’s report backed the measure, and added that a central, government-funded repository for the reports should be created, potentially under the office of the commissioner. | Thursday’s report backed the measure, and added that a central, government-funded repository for the reports should be created, potentially under the office of the commissioner. |
| However, it remained silent on specifics, including how rigorous the reports should be, and whether the act should include penalties for businesses that discover modern slavery in their supply chains. | However, it remained silent on specifics, including how rigorous the reports should be, and whether the act should include penalties for businesses that discover modern slavery in their supply chains. |
| Australia’s potential modern slavery act is modelled after the UK’s Modern Slavery Act, introduced in 2015. But submissions from NGOs, unions and anti-slavery groups told the committee that the Australian act should go further and improve on the UK legislation. | Australia’s potential modern slavery act is modelled after the UK’s Modern Slavery Act, introduced in 2015. But submissions from NGOs, unions and anti-slavery groups told the committee that the Australian act should go further and improve on the UK legislation. |
| The UK act does not prescribe what supply chain reports must contain, and only offers suggestions. The interim report noted that the act “does not include enforcement mechanisms” and “relies on market forces to encourage businesses and organisations to report”. | The UK act does not prescribe what supply chain reports must contain, and only offers suggestions. The interim report noted that the act “does not include enforcement mechanisms” and “relies on market forces to encourage businesses and organisations to report”. |
| NGOs told the committee that Australia’s act should specifically prescribe what the mandatory reports should contain, but this was opposed by businesses. | NGOs told the committee that Australia’s act should specifically prescribe what the mandatory reports should contain, but this was opposed by businesses. |
| The Business Council of Australia said the UK model gave businesses “flexibility” in their statements, while a submission from Nestlé Australia said prescriptive models could risk become a “box-ticking” exercise. | The Business Council of Australia said the UK model gave businesses “flexibility” in their statements, while a submission from Nestlé Australia said prescriptive models could risk become a “box-ticking” exercise. |
| About 150 years after most countries banned slavery – Brazil was the last to abolish its participation in the transatlantic slave trade, in 1888 – millions of men, women and children are still enslaved. Contemporary slavery takes many forms, from women forced into prostitution, to child slavery in agriculture supply chains or whole families working for nothing to pay off generational debts. Slavery thrives on every continent and in almost every country. Forced labour, people trafficking, debt bondage and child marriage are all forms of modern-day slavery that affect the world's most vulnerable people. | About 150 years after most countries banned slavery – Brazil was the last to abolish its participation in the transatlantic slave trade, in 1888 – millions of men, women and children are still enslaved. Contemporary slavery takes many forms, from women forced into prostitution, to child slavery in agriculture supply chains or whole families working for nothing to pay off generational debts. Slavery thrives on every continent and in almost every country. Forced labour, people trafficking, debt bondage and child marriage are all forms of modern-day slavery that affect the world's most vulnerable people. |
| The UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that about 21 million people are in forced labour at any point in time. The ILO says this estimate includes trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. They calculate that 90% of the 21 million are exploited by individuals or companies, while 10% are forced to work by the state, rebel military groups, or in prisons under conditions that violate ILO standards. Sexual exploitation accounts for 22% of slaves. | The UN's International Labour Organisation (ILO) estimates that about 21 million people are in forced labour at any point in time. The ILO says this estimate includes trafficking and other forms of modern slavery. They calculate that 90% of the 21 million are exploited by individuals or companies, while 10% are forced to work by the state, rebel military groups, or in prisons under conditions that violate ILO standards. Sexual exploitation accounts for 22% of slaves. |
| Slavery exists in one form or another in every country. Asia accounts for more than half of the ILO's 21 million estimate. In terms of percentage of population, central and south-east Europe has the highest prevalence of forced labour, followed by Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. | Slavery exists in one form or another in every country. Asia accounts for more than half of the ILO's 21 million estimate. In terms of percentage of population, central and south-east Europe has the highest prevalence of forced labour, followed by Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean. |
| In 2005, the ILO estimated that illegal profits from forced labour amounted to more than $44bn. The UN's global initiative to fight trafficking says people trafficking is the third-largest global criminal industry (pdf) behind drugs and arms trafficking. The ILO estimates that people in forced labour lose at least $21bn each year in unpaid wages and recruitment fees. Slavery also exists within global supply chains, generating huge profits for those who control this industry in free labour. | In 2005, the ILO estimated that illegal profits from forced labour amounted to more than $44bn. The UN's global initiative to fight trafficking says people trafficking is the third-largest global criminal industry (pdf) behind drugs and arms trafficking. The ILO estimates that people in forced labour lose at least $21bn each year in unpaid wages and recruitment fees. Slavery also exists within global supply chains, generating huge profits for those who control this industry in free labour. |
| The committee said it would not make a recommendation on the issue until the final report. | The committee said it would not make a recommendation on the issue until the final report. |
| Similarly, it remained silent on whether a modern slavery act should include penalties for companies that discover modern slavery in supply chains, and did not set a threshold for which companies would be required to file reports. | Similarly, it remained silent on whether a modern slavery act should include penalties for companies that discover modern slavery in supply chains, and did not set a threshold for which companies would be required to file reports. |
| The government’s proposal, which is open to consultation, suggested a threshold of $100m, while the UK legislation sets the bar at £36m (A$58m). | The government’s proposal, which is open to consultation, suggested a threshold of $100m, while the UK legislation sets the bar at £36m (A$58m). |
| Thursday’s report did offer in-principle support for penalties for non-reporting for companies above the threshold. The report also recommended that smaller companies should be allowed to opt-in to the reporting. | Thursday’s report did offer in-principle support for penalties for non-reporting for companies above the threshold. The report also recommended that smaller companies should be allowed to opt-in to the reporting. |
| A submission from Adidas noted that, under the UK’s market-based approach, a lack of punishments would not affect businesses that were not “reputation-sensitive”. Anti-Slavery Australia called it a “weak regulatory tool”. | A submission from Adidas noted that, under the UK’s market-based approach, a lack of punishments would not affect businesses that were not “reputation-sensitive”. Anti-Slavery Australia called it a “weak regulatory tool”. |
| Hungry, poor, exploited: alarm over Australia's import of farm workers | Hungry, poor, exploited: alarm over Australia's import of farm workers |
| The committee said it was considering arguments from both sides: “The committee acknowledges concerns from NGOs that the lack of penalties for noncompliance in the UK act has meant many businesses and organisations have not reported. | The committee said it was considering arguments from both sides: “The committee acknowledges concerns from NGOs that the lack of penalties for noncompliance in the UK act has meant many businesses and organisations have not reported. |
| “However, the committee considers that the market-based model of compliance used in the UK will develop over time and encourage a ‘race to the top’ for businesses and organisations.” | “However, the committee considers that the market-based model of compliance used in the UK will develop over time and encourage a ‘race to the top’ for businesses and organisations.” |
| It offered strong support for the establishment of a central repository for reports, and said it was supported by a majority of submissions. | It offered strong support for the establishment of a central repository for reports, and said it was supported by a majority of submissions. |
| The final report will also consider other elements such as support for victims, improvements to visa rules and the prevention of orphanage tourism. | The final report will also consider other elements such as support for victims, improvements to visa rules and the prevention of orphanage tourism. |
| The Global Slavery Index estimates 4,300 people are victims of modern slavery in Australia, which includes debt bondage, domestic servitude, orphanage trafficking, sex trafficking and forced marriage, among other practices. | The Global Slavery Index estimates 4,300 people are victims of modern slavery in Australia, which includes debt bondage, domestic servitude, orphanage trafficking, sex trafficking and forced marriage, among other practices. |
| Slavery | Slavery |
| Australian politics | Australian politics |
| Law (Australia) | Law (Australia) |
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