The Australian Government has officially released its response to the independent review of the Modern Slavery Act 2018, signaling a solid commitment to addressing modern slavery practices at both national and global levels. Following an in-depth review that examined the effectiveness of the legislation over the past four years, the government has pledged to implement several recommendations aimed at strengthening accountability, improving transparency, and enhancing the Act’s overall impact.

In today's globalised world, understanding and managing the complexities of modern slavery in supply chains is not just a recommended practice—it's essential. Based on the latest Global Estimates of Modern Slavery report, published by the International Labour Organization, International Organization for Migration and international human rights group Walk Free, the numbers are staggering.

Modern slavery continues to be a hidden risk in global supply chains.​ Ignoring modern slavery risks can damage brand reputation and bring legal consequences, that can take years to recovery from, both reputationally and financially.​​Conducting a risk assessment is the first step in identifying and addressing vulnerabilities as well as help prioritise areas for monitoring and intervention.​​

In today's global economy, buyers have unprecedented visibility into an organisation's operations and values. They often choose to buy from ethical companies that source their products sustainably and engage in environmentally responsible practices. This is pertinent in Australia, where over 49 million people live in conditions of modern slavery, with only one in five cases reported.

The number of people impacted by modern slavery increases dramatically from year to year, with women and children still disproportionately the most vulnerable. According to the Global Estimates of Modern Slavery: Forced Labour and Forced Marriage report, produced in collaboration between the International Labour Organisation (ILO), Walk Free, and the International Organization for Migration, the latest global estimates indicate that 50 million people were living in modern slavery in 2021.

Download this Infographic to learn about the 6 stages of the Modern Slavery Flywheel according to the OECD Due Diligence Model.

We partner with customers to help them better understand the issues surrounding Modern Slavery, proactively manage modern slavery risks within their supply chains and ultimately, improve on their modern slavery stance.

Intertek SAI Global recently hosted the team at Australian Catholic Anti-Slavery Network last month for our newly updated course in social compliance auditing.

Recently, Australia reached a momentous milestone with the passing of the Modern Slavery Amendment (Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner) Bill 2023 through Parliament. This legislation establishes the first federal Anti-Slavery Commissioner as an independent statutory officeholder. Read more to find out more on what this means for your organisation and where we can help.

Discover the top 5 future skills professional need to build expertise in cybersecurity, sustainability, leadership, and beyond. Stay competitive and add measurable value. This article dives into the top five skills that are shaping the future of auditing, the trends driving their importance, and actionable steps you can take to develop them.