Throughout 2019 we've seen media reports on the use of
forced labour in the manufacture of Australian goods.
This insidious form of modern slavery is why the Federal
Government enacted new legislation in a welcome move to clamp down
on this practice.
However while the intention is right, the reality is companies
tackling the use of forced labour in their international supply
chains face major challenges in adapting to these new laws.
That's because the Modern Slavery Act lacks any
real detail on what companies are expected to do in practical terms
in ensuring their supply chains are slavery free.
Instead, a mandatory reporting system under the legislation puts
the onus on large companies to self-report on their supply chain
monitoring and risk assessment processes, with details then being
available publicly.
