What is Modern Slavery Act in Australia? Is Australia in the future of global trade? Recently, the term “ modern slavery ” has been used to contrast.
The Australian Government considers that there is a high risk of Australian businesses being exposed to modern slavery risks on the basis that, traditionally, Australia has had a strong presence in ‘high risk’ sectors and industries (for example, agriculture, construction, electronics, extractives, fashion and hospitality), and many. But so is supporting survivors. There are no national data reporting the number of identified victims of modern slavery.
The Freedom Hub is the only charity in Australia with this focus. Currently, the Australian government provides data through several core agencies, such as the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Red Cross who is the service provider of the Support for Trafficked People Program (STPP), and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP). Sixty-nine of these offences related to forced marriage, related to sexual exploitation, concerned labour exploitation, and the remainder of referrals related to other forms of human trafficking and slavery. See full list on globalslaveryindex. While modern slavery clearly occurs within Australia, the realities of global trade and business make it inevitable that Australia, like many other countries globally, will also be exposed to the risk of modern slavery through the products it imports.
Policy-makers, businesses, and consumers must become aware of this risk and take responsibility for it. Table lists the top five products (according to US$ value) imported by Australia from countries which are at risk of using modern slavery in the production of these goods. Both countries have a large electronics manufacturing industry that has been accused of exploiting workers.
Over percent of Australia’s imported clothes are sourced from countries where the apparel industry is considered at risk of using modern slavery.
Nearly US$ 3million worth of fish are imported by Australia. Migrants are particularly vulnerable to modern slavery in Australia. This is supported by the fact that so far, most identified cases of modern slavery in Australia have involved migrants, although Australian citizens have also experienced exploitation. The risks facing temporary migrant workers are a result of a combination of the inherent vulnerabilities associated with being a temporary migrant and the characteristics of the industry in which temporary migrants tend to work. It is important to differentiate between highly skilled and sought after temporary migrants (who are usually less vulnerable to exploitation) and less-skilled migrants coming to Australia from countries where work opportunities may be scarce and where wages are typically low.
Low-skilled temporary migrant workers are vuln. Australia has criminalised human trafficking, slavery and slavery-like practices, including servitude and forced labour, in Division 2and 2of the Criminal Code. The current legal framework requires vi.
The amendments also increased the penalties for those offences. Modern slavery is a serious violation of an individual’s dignity and human rights. The International Labour Organizationestimates there are more than million people in modern slavery conditions worldwide.
The Act signals a commitment to promoting a safe and fair society for everyone. It establishes appropriate state-based responses to drive genuine change to combat modern slavery. The Act seeks to tackle modern slavery occurring in NSW and in the supply chains of NSW organisations – whether that conduct occurs within the state, the country or internationally. Some of the Act’s directions include: 1. NSW Government agencies to acknowledge and address modern sla.
Anti-Slavery Commissioner to combat and raise awareness of modern slavery in NSW 2. All organisations share the collective responsibility to guarantee their goods and services are not products of modern slavery.
Few businesses would knowingly deal with suppliers that use such exploitative practices, and most Australian consumers would be dismayed to think there may be modern slavery in the supply chains of goods they purchase. The statement must outline the steps they have taken to reduce the risk of modern slavery across their operations and supply chains. As a practicing lawyer, Jennifer has provided direct legal representation to hundreds of men, women and children in Australia. Jennifer has substantial experience as a human rights lawyer and academic with over years researching and practicing in the area of human trafficking and slavery.
She convenes a subject within the UTS Faculty of Law, ‘The Law of Human Trafficking and Slavery’. The purpose is to reduce modern slavery in the supply chain of Australian businesses and to establish transparency. Through the Modern Slavery Act, the Australian Government is taking a global leadership role in combating modern slavery. Slavery through a modern lens “People still think of slavery as people in chains being taken across the ocean,” says Carolyn Kitto, Co-director of the Australian chapter of Stop the Traffik, a coalition of civil society, community and other organisations working together against trafficking in Australia and around the world.
Many Australian businesses may be unaware of the risk that they have slavery in their business or supply chains. Statistically, the incidence of modern slavery within Australia appears to be relatively low, but it is likely that the statistics reflect a low level of awareness of the issues, and the actual incidence may be much higher, both domestically and overseas. First steps for businesses are to understand their business profile and define whether the modern slavery act applies to them. The Australian Government proposes that for the purpose of the reporting requirement, modern slavery will be defined to incorporate conduct that would constitute a relevant offence under existing human trafficking, slavery and slavery -like offence provisions set out in divisions 2and 2of the Commonwealth Criminal Code. Walk Free is a global organisation with a mission to end modern slavery in our generation by mobilising a global activist movement, generating the highest quality research, enlisting business, and raising unprecedented levels of capital to drive change in those countries and industries bearing the greatest responsibility for modern slavery today.
Corporate human rights reporting in Australia has changed.
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