One of Australia’s best-known business figures says he uncovered slavery in at least 12 suppliers as he tried to stamp out forced labour from the business chain of his mining company.
Speaking at a forum in Sydney, Andrew Forrest said he told suppliers to his Fortescue Metals Group that they had to own up to using forced labour or they would be “barbecued”.
[They had] a life expectancy of five years and food which just kept them alive
The process flushed out “at least 12 suppliers” who admitted they had “real issues”. He visited one of those suppliers in the Middle East, and discovered scores of foreign workers in shocking conditions.
“[They had] a life expectancy of five years and food which just kept them alive … 18 to a room which you wouldn’t call your larder ... and not able to leave,” he said. “That company ladies and gentlemen was supplying goods to us and to companies all over ... Australia. We all had slavery in our supply chains.”
At the forum, convened by the Global Compact Network Australia (GCNA), Australia’s government, business and not-for-profit bodies met to discuss potential changes to the law to tackle the problem.
A parliamentary inquiry will examine whether legal changes could provide greater protection for workers from human-trafficking, forced labour and debt bondage.