The View | Ending modern slavery in business is possible. Here’s how
Matthew Friedman says the successful mission to land man on the moon, once thought impossible, should inspire a uniting vision to eradicate this stain on humanity. Once committed, a blueprint for action should follow
At a recent board meeting, one of our directors listed the reasons that business should be concerned with modern slavery. These included new legislation related to modern slavery, more stringent government procurement practices, an increasing number of lawsuits against corporations, and greater media and consumer attention.
He concluded by saying that supply chains containing forced labour are simply not sustainable and that, for the private sector, non-engagement is no longer an option. At this point, one of our colleagues interjected: “Everything you say is true, but you forgot the most important reason – that slavery is just plain wrong.”
Modern slavery continues to be a sensitive issue within the private sector. A lack of experience in dealing with this complex problem means that many companies don’t know how to begin the process of engaging. But, just like the practices that led William Wilberforce and Abraham Lincoln to stand up for what was right and just, we are talking about a blight on the world, and our bottom line has to be that, when people look back on our times, we were on the right side of history.
While there are a number of initiatives being put in place within the private sector to identify and address modern slavery, many companies lack a sufficiently detailed understanding of the issue, a strategic plan, tools to detect criminal behaviour, internal incentives to respond, and resources to act.