New Transparency: Using Collaboration and Technology to Combat Modern Slavery

More than 40 million people worldwide are trapped in conditions of modern slavery, according to a study by the Walk Free Foundation and the International Labor Organization. The fight against modern slavery is fragmented. Governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and law enforcement agencies are fighting their own struggles at different levels (local, regional, national, global) without much collaboration.

In increasingly globalized markets on companies to eliminate the modern slavery exploitation practices in their global operations and supply chains.

Companies have the opportunity to lead the way in the growing global effort to eliminate the exploitative practices of modern slavery; they are ideally placed to educate larger groups – their employees and their business partners. By acting, companies can meet the growing expectations of investors, shareholders and society. manage legal, reputational, financial and operational risks; However, they can not do it alone, and to be effective, companies will need to go beyond simple compliance efforts focused on due diligence / disclosure and emphasize transparency and collaboration with government. . and NGOs. Technological advances offer real and substantial opportunities for improvement.

Using Technology for Greater Transparency

Governments and NGOs are beginning to leverage technology to disseminate knowledge and tools for the private sector and communities. themselves and learn how they can act.

For example, the US Department of Labor has created two apps – Sweat & Toil and Comply Chain – each with a different purpose. Sweat & Toil is a resource that companies can use in their risk assessments to determine if used goods are produced with child labor or forced. It consolidates information on the legal and enforcement standards of other countries, among other things. Comply Chain creates a standard of established practice to reduce the likelihood of goods being produced with child labor or forced labor. It provides a plan for businesses to create or improve a social compliance system.

NGOs like Stop the Traffik, a global organization focused on the prevention of modern slavery, have created an intelligence-led prevention center in partnership with IBM. , analyze and disseminate information on the routes and risks of modern slavery. With the dissemination of such information, efforts in this struggle may become less fragmented.

Similarly, for companies to really make a difference when they engage – voluntarily or involuntarily – in responding to a new regulatory regime, technological advances will give them an opportunity to support their actions in the future. transparency and ethics of supply chains. For example:

Workers' Voice – Using mobile platforms that provide two-way real-time communication for workers throughout the supply chain.

Traceability of Materials and Supplies – blockchain for tracing products throughout their path from producer to consumer

Commitment of Suppliers and Workers – Equip and Operate Data analysis to monitor work-related risks in real time, creating more responsible global supply chains. 19659003] Risk Assessment – Mining data (eg, mobile phones, news reports and surveillance cameras) that can be analyzed using artificial intelligence and machine learning to extract information significant and identify risks in the supply chain. 19659003] Employee Engagement – Use internal communication tools to enable employees to engage and educate, particularly in recruitment.

Technology can not be as good as the purpose for which it is used and how cautiously the information gained from it is put to use. If effective tools are used to educate and learn from different actors in the supply chain, companies have the opportunity to work with governments and NGOs to build and share knowledge.

There is an increasing number of international laws and standards requiring corporate reporting and due diligence on modern issues of slavery and human rights