The Global Slavery Index 2023

Executive Summary (Part 6)

​Recommendations
4. Governments must implement stronger measures to combat 
forced labour in public and private supply chains. 
 
Introduce mandatory human rights due diligence to stop governments and businesses from sourcing goods or services linked to modern slavery. In G20 countries, enact additional legal measures, such as import controls on products linked to forced labour, Magnitsky-style sanctions, and public lists of companies found to tolerate forced labour in their supply chains. 
 
Extend labour laws and fundamental labour rights to all groups without exception, including freedom of association and collective bargaining. Extend social protection to all workers and provide remedy for modern slavery survivors. 
 
Introduce and enforce laws to prohibit charging of recruitment fees to employees, register and monitor recruitment agencies for deceptive practices, and ensure contracts are made available in a language migrants can understand. 
 
5. Governments and businesses must prioritise human rights when engaging with repressive regimes. 
Conduct due diligence to ensure that any trade, business, or investment is not contributing to or benefitting from state-imposed forced labour, including where it occurs in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of China. 
 
Where links to state-imposed forced labour are identified, and operating in line with the UN Guiding Principles has become impossible, withdraw from sourcing goods and services. 
 
Ensure survivors of state-imposed forced labour have access to remediation, which may include financial compensation and access to legal, health, and psychosocial services. 
 
Walk Free 2023. Global Slavery Index 2023. Minderoo Foundation Ltd. Australia.