AIER made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into a Modern Slavery Act for Australia.

The submission focuses on regulating corporations in relation to their supply chains.Globalisation has ensured that many, if not most, of the products we use or consume have made their way to us through a global supply chain. Clothing and textiles, food, all types manufactured goods, technologies, and wood products amongst others are all likely to have been wholly or partly sourced through global supply chains.

Where governments promote globalisation, it comes with a responsibility to protect the people likely to be harmed by the economic forces unleashed. While the complexity and length of supply chains is a challenge for developing effective regulations, it cannot be an excuse for inaction.

AIER has recommended that Australia does implement a robust Modern Slavery Act that includes a requirements for companies captured by the law to develop a due diligence plan, penalties for non-compliance and the ability of those harmed by companies not exercising due diligence to take action.

Download AIER submission to Modern Slavery Act Inquiry

 

 

  1. Executive Member, AIER
  2. Sean Scalmer is Professor of Australian History in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies at Melbourne University. Sean studied political economy and political science at the University of Sydney, before undertaking a PhD on intellectuals and class in the Australian labour movement. He worked as a research fellow in the Department of Politics, Macquarie University (1998-2004), then as a Lecturer in Sociology (2004-2006) at the same University. He joined the School of Historical Studies at the University of Melbourne in 2007. Sean’s major interests are in the histories of social movements, class, and democracy. orders for food delivery platform workers. [Bio from Sean Scalmer’s Melbourne University webpage]