It found that almost 60 per cent of the world's slaves are in five countries: China, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Uzbekistan. 'We have unfortunately discovered that forced labour exists in Australia.": MIning magnate Andrew Forrest. Credit:Louie Douvis The research, conducted by Gallup, estimated 4300 people in Australia are living in slavery with Mr Forrest identifying food production and the sex industry as two areas vulnerable to the exploitation of workers. "From the food processing industry in the eastern states to the tomato growing industry in Western Australia, we have unfortunately discovered that forced labour exists in Australia," the Fortescue Metals Group chairman said. "There is also forced prostitution." Australian consumers may be unwittingly complicit in supporting the practice of slavery overseas, by purchasing products from companies with forced labour in their supply chains.

"Slavery is allowed to persist in Australia because people think it doesn't happen," he said. "When we walk into a clothes shop we don't ask, 'Where did this material come from? How was is manufactured? Are you sure there was no forced labour in the supply chain?' These are not questions we ever ask. We succumb to indifference. "All I'm asking is that consumers recognise that forced labour is a very serious issue in the supply chains of the clothes and the food they take for granted."

Mr Forrest found "abhorrent" forced labour practices in Fortescue Metals' supply chains after ordering an audit, warning that other corporations and governments would find the same if they looked. He is using the release of the 2016 Global Slavery Index to lobby the leaders of the world's largest economies - United States, China, Japan, Germany, the UK, France, Brazil, Italy, Russia and India - to enact legislation on supply chain transparency for all goods and services imported or sold in their countries. "Businesses that don't actively look for forced labour within their supply chains are standing on a burning platform," he wrote in the foreword to the report. Mr Forrest praised the Australian government's steps to address slavery but supports the adoption of legislation similar to the UK's Modern Slavery Act, which requires large companies to report on how they are safeguarding supply chains from forced labour. "Would I like a modern slavery act to be instituted here in Australia? Yes, I think it's necessary," he said. I think it would empower every chairman and chief executive take the issue seriously in Australia."

with Inga Ting



