Modern slavery is widespread in Asia – the Apprise Audit app shows how technology can help in the fight against it
Developed by the Mekong Club and United Nations University Institute in Macau, the app allows confidential interviews in any language to identify red flags in labour exploitation
Human trafficking and labour exploitation are flourishing. According to the Mekong Club, a Hong Kong-based anti-slavery non-profit that educates corporations about forced labour in global supply chains, there are more than 40 million men, women and children in slavery today, the highest number in history. Of that figure, 66 per cent are in Asia.
And despite efforts of the United Nations, NGOs and governments worldwide, just 0.2 per cent of the victims receive help each year.
Industries most affected are those that employ low-paid workers and have few regulations: agriculture and fishing, construction and mining, and manufacturing, processing and packaging. The situation is made worse by brands that source from countries with low wages and poor protection of workers’ rights. Despite a growing trend for spending with a conscience, the appetite for “cheap” goods often outweighs concerns about exploited workers.
But for ethical brands worried about workers’ conditions, monitoring long and often complex global supply chains can be challenging.
Phoebe Ewen, programme director at the Mekong Club, says communication barriers, inadequate training as well as trust and privacy issues make it difficult to get a clear picture during social compliance auditing, a key way in which companies assess working conditions in their supply chains.